Port St Mary Lifeboat Station - ILB Callouts: 30th August 2001

Weather fine; wind WNW force 3

11:25 BST. Liverpool Coastguard requested the launch of Port St Mary ILB to go to the aid of a lady who had fallen off the Breakwater. The incident had been spotted by a member of the public who was walking on the Breakwater with his small child. He raised the alarm and Chris Barnes of Colby and Morgan Guy of Fistard promptly sprung into action. They ran down the top of the breakwater and lowered themselves onto the ledge, taking off their boots on the way, before plunging into the sea. Chris was first in the water closely followed by Morgan. They reached the lady and kept her head above the very cold water before pulling her onto some rocks to await the arrival of the ILB. All three were taken in to the slipway. Morgan and Chris were none the worse for their fully clothed swim but the lady was taken for a precautionary check up to Nobles Hospital, in Douglas.

'I have the highest praise for the two lads... they acted very quickly , without panic and with a very high degree of courage. Chris had been working on the Breakwater on a crane lowering an engine onto Morgan's fishing boat. Their actions ensured a good outcome to the incident.
They are reluctant heroes but I hope they get some recognition for their bravery.'
Alex Maddrell, Hon Sec., Port St Mary Lifeboat.

The scene after the lady and Chris Barnes and Morgan Guy were picked up by Port St Mary's Inshore lifeboat.... The boots belonging to Chris are in the foreground. (Copyright Alex Maddrell)

Edited 30-Aug-2001