TWO COASTGUARD RESCUE OFFICERS NOMINATED FOR PRIDE OF BRITAIN AWARD

Two Coastguard Rescue Officers have been nominated for a national award after they helped save a teenager from drowning off the coast of Hartlepool.

Colin Lodge and Chris Hornsey, along with members of the RNLI, have been put forward for the Daybreak Emergency Services Award, part of the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards.
It’s for their heroics on 30 September 2011, when Humber Coastguard co-ordinated a rescue mission to save 17-year-old Neil Robson, who’d become stuck in the sand off Seaton Carew. But the rescuers were facing a race against time, as the tide was coming in fast.

The Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team, led by Officer in Charge, Billy Spurs, was first to arrive on scene following a 999 call. Chris and Colin made their way into the water and were quickly joined by the lifeboat crew. It became apparent that scraping and digging the sand under the weight of the water was impossible and the OIC requested the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service which supplied a high power hose to blast the sand. Neil was freed with his head just above the water and the tide still rising.

Chris said: “I am honoured to have been nominated for the Pride of Britain award, a nomination that I have gained as a member of a team that all wanted to take the actions I took. Our aim was to get Neil out of the water as safely and efficiently as possible. This we managed to do with the help of all of the other agencies working together as a team, which helped Neil make a full recovery.”

Greg Albrighton, Coastguard manager for the area, said: “This is an excellent example of rescue teams working together under great pressure. We equip and practice for many eventualities but sometimes, with highly unusual incidents like this, we rely on training, experience and improvisation. It is great news that HM Coastguard and the Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team are represented at the Pride of Britain Awards.”

Their story is being shown from 7am on ITV1’s Daybreak this Wednesday 17 October. The winner of the award will be announced on Friday and will then be invited to attend the awards ceremony on 29 October. The event will be shown on ITV1 on Tuesday 30 October.

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