A SWIM TOO FAR

During the aftermath of Hurricane Gordon, when Ireland was buffeted by extraordinary gales , one woman found herself in grave danger

The call came on 21 September 2006. As she cleared the shelter of the harbour and entered Killiney bay, Dun Laoghaire’s Trent class Anna Livia met winds gusting storm force 11. The sun was going down when the crew noticed a man standing above the landing steps frantically waving a torch to attract their attention. A woman who had been swimming with companions had been swept by a flood tide 250m from the landing (a popular spot for swimmers) to the top of the bay.
Although her friends had managed to reach the shore to raise the alarm, worryingly, the remaining swimmer was caught between the outer breakers and the steep shelving rocks at the base of the cliff. The Dublin-based Coast Guard helicopter had already been summoned but because the cliff and houses were so close, it was unable to intervene safely. The only solution was for the lifeboat to go in. This was particularly difficult, not only because of the shallower water, but because recent work on the sea defences had resulted in stray boulders lying scattered on the seabed.

Skill and bravery
Coxswain Ken Robertson said: ‘As we launched and headed for Killiney Bay we could see the weather deteriorating. Rounding Sorrento Point, it was clear that pulling the swimmer straight from the water was the only solution to a rapidly worsening situation.’ He carefully steered the lifeboat towards the shore while trying to avoid hazards. The nearest he could get was 10m from the swimmer. Crew Member Wayne Farrell was ready on the foredeck in a drysuit with a heaving line firmly attached. Surf was breaking over the stern, making standing difficult. At the Coxswain’s instruction , and without hesitation, Wayne jumped into the sea and swam towards the woman in difficulty.
Ken manoeuvred the Anna Livia astern into the breaking seas to gain more depth. Second Coxswain Patrick Boyd, the Navigator, judged there was less than 3m of water between them and the seabed. With a draught of 1.4m, any approach closer to the shoreline could have been disastrous. In the meantime, Wayne had caught hold of the woman and hung on tightly as Crew Members Chris Watson, Gary Hayes and Rory Bolton hauled the pair back to the lifeboat. Wayne commented after: ‘This is what we train for and jumping in with a line didn’t cost me a thought other than I had to get to the swimmer before her luck ran out. I had complete trust that ken and the crew would get us back safely.’
The relieved swimmer was taken into the wheelhouse and made comfortable. When safely back in harbour, she was handed over to the awaiting ambulance and coast guards and the lifeboat returned to station. Despite her life-threatening ordeal in the water, which had lasted over an hour, the woman recovered well and returned to the station on her birthday a few days later to thank the crew.

Awards for all
Coxswain Ken Robertson and Crew member Wayne Farrell receive the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum; Second Coxswain Patrick Boyd, Mechanic Kieran O’Connell and Crew Members Chris Watson, Gary Hayes and Rory Bolton are presented with Vellum Service certificates. Stephen Wynn, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Dun Laoghaire receives a Letter of Appreciation.

(from the Magazine 'The Lifeboat', Summer 2007, page 23)