Dramatic sea rescue pensioner thanks Littlehampton lifeboats

AN elderly swimmer has personally thanked rescuers who saved him and a friend's teenage grand-daughter when strong winds threatened to sweep them out to sea on Monday.

John Faber, 84, went to help 13-year-old Madeline Swan when he saw her in difficulties just off Littlehampton's West Beach.

But force 7 south-westerly winds and the strong river current and tide carried them further out. Only the West Works pier at the mouth of the River Arun saved them from being washed away on the crashing waves.

Extensive cuts and bruises

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John, of Batworth House, Crossbush, protected the frightened teenager from the waves while she tried to climb the timber structure, but he took a battering and suffered extensive cuts and bruising from the shingle and barnacles clinging to the pier.

By the time Littlehampton's two inshore lifeboats arrived he was barely conscious, and crew members carried him through the surf, back to the safety of the beach, as there was not enough water for the lifeboat to get close in.

Madeline was winched to safety from the top of the West Works by a Solent Coastguard helicopter which was diverted to Littlehampton from another emergency call-out at Southsea. The helicopter then landed on the beach to pick up John, and both were airlifted to Worthing Hospital where they were treated, but allowed to go home a couple of hours later.

Expression of gratitude

Yesterday (Wednesday, July 8) morning John and his wife Jeanne, 80, who raised the alarm with a 999 call just before 3pm from the West Beach Cafe, visited the Littlehampton lifeboat station to thank members of the RNLI crew involved in the rescue, and to present a cheque as an expression of their gratitude.

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John recalled the moment he realised something was wrong as he saw Madeline begin to struggle. "I was just standing in the water, as the waves were too strong for swimming. Madeline was a bit further out, and suddenly she was just swept off her feet.

"I thought she was waving, so I waved back, but then I realised she was shouting 'Help!' at the same time, so I went to try to help her, but the wind and the waves were so strong, we just couldn't get back to the beach and were carried onto the large breakwater."

"Very lucky"

Lifeboat crew member Rob Rollins, Gavin Simmons and Lee Cullen waded through the sea to reach John. Rob said: "They were very lucky not to have been swept right out. By the time we got to him he was a dead weight in the water, not able to support himself.

"It's good to see him now, recovering, but it could have been a very different story."

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Gavin, who helped John off the pier and carried him through the surf. He said: "He was conscious, but not very responsive when we got to him. He was shocked and had cuts all over him from the barnacles."

Jeanne joined John in thanking the rescuers. "We can never be grateful enough for the care of the lifeboat crews and the helicopter pilot."

The emergency was an unexpected adventure for Madeline, from the United States, who was visiting the Fabers with her own grandmother.

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