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News Report
June 15 issue of the Bognor Regis Observer 20 June 2006 |
Windsurfers save girl in sea rescue drama
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| (George Richards and Brian (Zippy) Kay |
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Two windsurfers rescued a female swimmer off Bognor Regis beach.
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Sixth former George Richards and retired Brian Kay ensured the young girl was brought to shore safety.
The girl had suffered a severe asthma attack while she had been enjoying the summer weather in the sea
in front of Bognor Regis Yacht Club. But her agitated condition, and the tide flowing against her, made it impossible for her to reach the beach
on her own.
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George (17) said: "The girl was having a really bad asthma attack and was in a bad way. She was shivering
and very cold. "She might have been in the water for about half an hour in all. The situation could have been a lot worse if
we had not been able to get there so quickly."
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| The emergency began early last Saturday afternoon George had been windsurfing after he had just finished his 4 A Level's at St Phillips Catholic High School in
Barnham. The morning had seen him and Brian take part in a training exercise in the Yacht Clubs rigid inflatable rescue boat.
This session had been arranged to improve club members rescue ability after an earlier rescue of a windsurfer. |
"We practiced the whole routine of picking up a person from the water and rescuing them and handling them" explained George of Orchard Gardens,
Woodgate.
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It was decided to leave the boat on the beach for the afternoon. George had come back on shore after his windsurfing when the alarm was raised by the friends of a female swimmer he believed was aged about 12.
She had been enjoying herself in the water. The onset of a severe bout of asthma and the direction of the current pulling her towards Pagham made it impossible for her to get ashore. |
| George and Brian decided to act quickly. They launched the rescue boat with its small outboard motor and soon covered the distance to the girl. |
| She was less than 100 metres offshore during low tide but was out of her depth.
"We quickly reached her" stated George, "and circled around her and then pulled her into the rescue boat rapidly".
They helped her into the club house where she was treated by a paramedic. George believes she was taken to hospital for further treatment. |
| The coast Guard also attended the event. |
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