#GetWaterWise: Stranraer man issues warning after being saved by coastguard
Matt Halliday was told he was one hour from death.
Last updated 20th Aug 2021
As part of our #GetWaterWise campaign, a Stranraer man is urging people not to hesitate in calling the coastgaurd, after he was cut off by the tide at Loch Ryan.
He was saved by the Stranraer, Portpatrick and Ballantrae Coastguard.
Matt Halliday had gone a walk along the shore, and before he realised, he was cut off by the rising tide.
He thought he would bide his time and wait for the tide to go back, but soon got into trouble, and quickly contracted severe hypothermia.
He hesitated before calling the coastguard, but eventually caved in.
He said: "They quite literally saved my life.
"Their response was very good.
"I got hypothermia because I thought I wouldn't cause a fuss by phoning the coastguard when I got caught out by the tide. I thought I'd just wait for it to go out.
"I lost consciousness and only regained it when the overhang I was sheltering under collapsed and I got burried in the mud and the pressure of that woke me up.
"It's then I phone the coastguard and they were there very quickly and very professionally.
"They couldn't do enough for me and as I said they saved my life.
"They reckon that with the severe hypothermia I had if I hadn't got help when I did, I'd have less than an hour left."
To thank the coastguard for their help, Matt is now doing a charity walk to raise money for the services.
His trek, which will take four days, will start at Portpatrick coastguard base, before making his way to Stranraer's and Ballantra's, and finish with a cycle from Culzean to Monkton.
RLSS UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: "We are surrounded by opportunities to be in or near water. Whatever their age and activity level, everyone should be having fun, creating memories and feeling at ease around the water.
"The inequality in access to swimming and water safety education, and subsequent lack of potential interaction with the water is a big concern."
There's more information on our #GetWaterWise campaign here.