Rescue at Sea

[Jason0411]

I tried posting this yesterday but after typing it all out tried to attacha picture that was too big and wiped the lot.

On the 22nd October at 18.35 Caister Lifeboat was called to a fishing boat taking on water about 4 miles north of us. It turned out it was our Coxswain and his Son Tommy.
On arriving on scene we were asked to escort the boat back to Caister Beach. Tommy was bailing out constantly and the boat was very low in the water.
Within a mile of the Station and only about quarter of a mile out a freak double wave hit her bows and she start to turn over. We screamed at our mates to get out of the boat which Tommy did straight away but his Dad Paul took a lot longer as the boat started to go down rolling to the port bow first the nets onboard laden with Herring all slid toward Paul. Luckily as the finally tipped he managed to push himself clear without getting dragged down with the nets.
Luckily for them we were alongside and myself and Aarron the two biggest crew with the longest arms were in the right place. As Tommy was being dragged under by his Thigh Waders Aarron grabbed his hand and with help of other crew dragged him onboard, I meanwhile was hanging over the edge reaching for our Coxswain, after three attempts he got my hand and with help I hauled him into the boat. I can honestly say I have never been so shook up and elated at the same time. The look of fear in their eyes was horrendous.

We then managed to get a line on the point of the bow which was the only bit of the boat visible and very slowly towed her to the beach. With the help of the shore crew we got the boat into the breakers then beached the lifeboat. We then somehow all lined up and rolled the boat upright into the waves and manged to get her dragged clear by tractor.

So two lives and a boat saved.

I have been doing a lot of botttling up and needeed to get this off my chest my fingers have actually been shaking whilst typing this.

But my relevance to this site is that without Mr McMinn and his team I would not have been in a position to save a mates life.

Jas

[oldsoccerplayer]

In the Jewish tradition, when you save one life it is as if you saved the entire world.
This is a very moving and inspiring story, you should be proud of yourself and your crew.

[hernanu]

Great story Jas - I was thinking the same thing.

We talk about getting back to our sports and activities, and that is the impact on us, but here is where we impact others, by getting back to our places in society at full throttle.

Congratulations on saving your friends' lives.

[Mike D]

A huge well done on that one Jas,
I've never been involved in anything like that but I like to think that should it ever happen, I'd be able to act like you and your crew. It's an amazing rescue, well done to you all.

[moe]

Congratulations Jason and a huge well done to you and your crew.

moe

[hernanu]

I do get how frightening and nerve wracking it must have been to see people you want to save and how fearful they are. It must be taking you a bit to calm down.

[Jason0411]

I think it was made worse by the fact that we knew the people. When you know the family it hits you harder. Also the Coxswain is the man we all look upto and trust with our lives normally and there he was upto his chin in the North sea helplessley reaching for my hand.
Mind you it was down to his training that made us work like we did in a crisis.

Really is helping typing things out and thinking about things this is a really good counselling site.

[whyme]

That's scary and uplifting, thanks for sharing your story.
By the way, I take you didn't think about your hip at all during the whole episode? That's the best testament to these devices... :-)

[hernanu]

Well, to some degree, we've all had to face our fears here, just not as dramatically as you did.

It also is much easier, I find to face fears for yourself than to those you care about.

You did well.

[Pat Walter]

Jason

It is wonderful when you can help other people - even better when you can save their lives.  They will be grateful the rest of their lives and you know that you can save lives, even with a hip replacement.

So good your BHR is working well and you can do your job again.  Thank You for sharing your story with us. 

God Bless!

Pat

[Arrojo]

Wow, just saw this!  Congrats, hero, you did good. 

[Reno]

Hi Jas. What a harrowing rescue and to think they were people you knew! I concur with the rest of the Hippies and congratulate you on saving their lives. And, I can certainly see why you would be rattled, even days later... 

I don't know if you saw it, but I caught the end of a news flash earlier today, where a rescue team was attempting to see what was savageable from a ship that had sunk to the bottom of the ocean (where I don't know). And, the diver, when he reached the wreakage, saw a hand reaching out from a section of the boat! At the bottom of the ocean! There was a man, who managed to be in a section of the boat where there was an air pocket. This was 60 hours (I think that is what the news report said, after the wreck and the man was still alive and was rescued!

So, first I see that miracle and now I have read about your miraculous feat! I really appreciate the fact that you shared your experience with us.

Take care.
Reno