PICTURE: Man dies after being pulled from the sea off Torquay
A MAN has died after being pulled from the sea off Torquay seafront.
The man's death is the second in successive nights at sea off the resort (see separate story).
The Torbay lifeboat battled terrible sea conditions to pull the man out of the water near the Princess Theatre.
A spokesman for the Torbay lifeboat said the alarm was raised just after 8pm on Tuesday when a man was seen in the water close to the theatre.
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The all-weather lifeboat was launched from Brixham in winds of up to 60 knots and arrived on scene at 8.30pm.
With only two metres of water depth and fierce waves, coxswain Mark Criddle battled to keep the 38-ton lifeboat in position and prevent it from colliding with the sea wall.
Crew member Ryan Bradfield, a strong swimmer, donned a dry suit and went into the water. He and the casualty were then pulled on board the lifeboat where Doctor Alex Rowe and fellow RNLI volunteer crew member Michelle Fox tried to resuscitate the man.
After 20 minutes of CPR and with the lifeboat by now inside Torquay harbour, an ambulance crew took over.
However, the man was pronounced dead on arrival at Torbay Hospital.
The operation also included Coastguards and police officers.
Mr Criddle said: "All the emergency services worked well together.
"The lifeboat crew did absolutely everything by the book, as did the other services."
10 Comments
by robocop1982
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 10:54PM
“i bet you no effort from torbay council will be made to raise the height of those safety barriers. if they had barriers which were 6ft high in the first place there is no way this person could of beed dragged in. safety is more important than scenery”
by robocop1982
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 10:47PM
“those barriers should be raised and made higher and those gaps at foot level are very unsafe for babies and children. they are not very safe for young children. look how big the gaps are. a young baby or todler could crawl through them and fall grate heights onto the sand. you think they would have the sense to cover them with fine grade mesh which would increase safety yet still make them see through. i dont think torbay council has any idea about safety”
by BuddytheElf
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 10:06PM
“For once we are all united in our comments - brave work by the emergency services, a tragic outcome, and all our thoughts with MasonRoss and family.”
by grumpytoo
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 8:12PM
“We have very brave Lifeboatmen, what would we do without them, and this is a charity just supported by voluntary contribution. We also really cannot afford to lose our fantantasic coastguards who are the co-ordinators for these rescues. 4 rescues in the space of 2 weeks. They are going to be such a loss to this area, with all their local knowledge. keep campaigning for them
Thank you to the Lifeboat, support them when you can, and thanks to all the local services, you really are the best.
RIP to the men who have died and condolences to their families.”
by Sinjis_Things
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 6:16PM
“Well done the Lifeboat crew. These people are fantastic. They are worth more than any footballer, pop/film star or TV personality as they do it on a voluntary basis for no monetary reward and no doubt if it happened again tonight they'd be there saving lives.”
by ziggyblue
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 5:00PM
“This shows the need to keep a local coastguard. RIP”
by MasonRoss
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 1:32PM
“I would like to thank the life boat for trying hard to save my Dad. RIP Dad love Mason XX”
by JasonDC
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 11:26AM
“For two nights running our local Coastguards have managed and co-ordinated the searches for two people cruelly taken by the sea.
Total respect for the rescue teams battling in severe conditions and total sympathy for the families and friends of those lost to the sea.
Whilst the search and rescue operations have been in vain surely this further highlights the need to keep our local Coastguard Station open. A search co-ordinated from further afield would have had a much reduced chance of success.”
by SidneyNuff
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 11:17AM
“Well done to people such as Ryan Bradfield who put their own lives at risk to try and save others.”
by Nippie
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:37AM
“Such brave Lifeboat crewmen.
RIP to the casualty.”