A Northern Ireland coastguard has spoken of his shock of how a group of bystanders had failed to help an elderly man who almost drowned at Bangor marina recently.
The coastguard named Graham Edgar from Co Down said he was deeply saddened and ashamed of no one even attempted to rescue the distressed man who fell off his boat near the marina. Mr Edgar, who was on duty at the Coastguard Operation Centre, based at Bangor Marina, at the time of the incident on Thursday morning, told reporters the victim has thankfully made a full recovery since the incident.
The Belfast Coastguard said he was “lost for words” that none of the onlookers had tried to help him. In a post on the service’s Facebook page, a spokesperson wrote: “It’s not often I am stuck for words, (but) no one from the crowd of onlookers dialled 999, or threw any life-saving equipment. “If you see someone in trouble on the coast or at sea, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard”.
It is thought the man was making adjustments to his boat when he slipped and fell into the water at approximately 11am Thursday morning. Meanwhile maritime operation controller Alex Smith told reporters: “Thankfully, this man was rescued and we were not dealing with a tragedy.” “We received a 999 call from a gentleman who said an elderly man was struggling in the water after falling from his boat. He said there appeared to be a number of onlookers.”
“He said he had noticed a crowd looking at something and when he went to see what it was he noticed the man struggling. There were lifebelts available and people could have phoned 999, but they didn’t. It’s impossible for me to say what people were thinking at the time.
“As soon as we did receive a 999 call, we immediately launched the lifeboat and tasked the Coastguard Rescue. A member of our operations staff (Mr Edgar) ran out to the scene and assisted the gentleman. He was shaken but not injured.”
Mr Smith also stressed the high importance of dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard if someone is in distress in the water. “We have to get that message out.” “If you believe someone is in danger, call 999 and ask for the coastguard. Don’t assume someone already has.”