Coastguard scoops stricken man from surging waves

Senior Coastal Operations Officer Ryan Gray

A man facing the threat of being dashed on the rocks by powerful waves was rescued by a coastguard who hauled him out of the surging water. 

The alarm was raised at about 9.45am at Skippingstone beach, Bangor, on 1 October when a member of the public reported their concern for a person they had spotted struggling on rocks being pounded by the sea. 

The 999 call was picked up at Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre which swiftly sent Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the local RNLI inshore lifeboat. 

First on the scene was Senior Coastal Operations Officer Ryan Gray who, taking in the situation, quickly donned a personal floatation device attached to a line. 

As the sea surged, Ryan shouted a warning to the man before, seconds later, a wave picked the figure up and threw him to the shore. 

The powerful surge carried him up the beach where Ryan was able to step forward and seize him out of the foam before he could be dragged out.  

With the assistance of a passerby securely keeping hold of Ryan’s line, they pulled the casualty to safety, suffering just a few cuts and bruises. 

Ryan, who oversees CRTs at Bangor, Kilkeel, Lough Erne, Newcastle and Portaferry, said: “Speed was of the essence in this situation as the waves were strong enough to carry the man out to sea or severely hurt him on the rocks. 

“At HM Coastguard me and my teams train regularly for these types of incidents. Safely equipped, I was able to be in the right place at the right time to recover the man to dry land, with the help of a passerby.” 

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