Fisherman say floating kept him alive in Lyme Regis lifeboat rescue
David Hendersen's boat was hit by a freak wave, plunging him into icy water for almost 30 minutes
Last updated 26th May 2022
A fisherman says floating, not swimming to shore, saved his life and allowed lifeboat crews from Lyme Regis to reach him.
David Hendersen is sharing his story today at the RNLI Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station to pass the skill on to others, as they announce their summer campaign 'Float to Live'.
David and two others were out fishing near Seaton in November when their boat was hit by a freak wave, which knocked the trio into the icy sea.
David said:
"To start with I tried swimming to the shore but the current from the river was taking us further out to sea.
"I knew I wouldn't be able to get to shore so I floated on my back. Somebody shouted that help was on the way, so I knew that help was coming it was just to keep myself in the best condition ready for rescue."
Dave recalled seeing an RNLI poster in his local yacht club which explained that if you get into difficulty in the water, you should Float to Live: lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety. Using this advice, he lay on his back and floated whilst he waited for help to arrive.
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew were tasked to the incident while David and the others waited. David floated there for 25-30 minutes.
"I was in such a condition from the cold that I didn't hear the boat coming and the first I knew was when there was somebody in the water beside me.
"I wasn't actually in a condition to help myself at that point. They were the ones who had to pull me onto the lifeboat. I couldn't climb, I couldn't grip, the cold was too much.
"When they got me to shore, the thermometers couldn't get a temperature reading it actually took two hours for my body temperature to get up to a temperature that they could detect. That was 32 degrees."
Dave has made a full recovery since the incident and credits floating on his back as the reason he survived.
Float to live
Ahead of the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, the RNLI is launching it’s summer water safety campaign with an event at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station today.
The campaign focuses on one main piece of advice this year - if you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live. To do this: lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety.
In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.
Gabbi Batchelor, Water Safety Education Manager at the RNLI said: ‘We are expecting the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend and the half-term holidays to be incredibly busy at the coast. We want everyone to enjoy their trip but we also want to make sure people stay safe and know what to do in an emergency.
‘It is important that anyone visiting the coast understands the risks of the environment. It can be very unpredictable, particularly during early summer when the risk of cold water shock significantly increases, as air temperatures warm up but water temperatures remain dangerously cold.
‘If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live: lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety. In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.’