The Maughan family of Whitley Bay visited Cullercoats Lifeboat Station on Wednesday to thank the volunteers for saving the life of 12-year-old William.
At 3.50pm on Wednesday 26 October, the crew of the RNLI Inshore lifeboat Hylton Burdon (Robert Oliver, Grahame Wood and Steven Potts) launched the lifeboat following reports that a young boy was being swept out to sea at Browns Bay just to the north of Cullercoats Harbour. Onlookers had dialled 999 and informed the Coastguard that the boy was in immediate danger and was being washed out to sea.
Members of Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade were on scene and were keeping the young man in their sights until the lifeboat arrived.
Robert Oliver, Senior Helmsman at Cullercoats, used all his local knowledge and expertise to take the lifeboat into very shallow water with 3-4 metre breaking seas to search for the young boy. The crew quickly spotted his figure; he was being washed up and down in the heavy seas and as Robert positioned the lifeboat to pick up the casualty, a wave broke over the lifeboat and the young boy vanished under the water. Seconds later he came up again alongside the lifeboat and the lifeboat crew quickly pulled him to safety.
The young boy was checked over by the lifeboat crew on the short journey back to Cullercoats and an ambulance was called to meet the lifeboat back at station. Sea conditions led to the crew being thrown around in the lifeboat while protecting William from further harm. All had bruises and aches to report after the incident.
RAF Rescue Helicopter 131 was in the area and informed the lifeboat crew they were diverting to the harbour at Cullercoats to airlift the youngster to Wansbeck General Hospital as this would be quicker than a road ambulance.
After a few minutes being cared for in the lifeboat station, William was winched to the RAF Rescue Helicopter and taken to hospital for further treatment. After several hours, he was released from hospital and taken home. The Maughan family came to the boathouse to thank the crew and take a look at the lifeboat which had been instrumental in saving his life.
William discussed his ordeal with the crew, who were able to fill in some of the details which had been very vague as he drifted towards unconsciousness. Crew member Grahame Wood said: ‘Will thought I was speaking quietly to him in the lifeboat when in fact I was screaming at him at the top of my voice in an effort to keep him awake.’
Will’s mother Margaret said: ‘I can’t thank or praise the crew and the RNLI enough for saving William’s life. Thanks to their fast response, my son is able to visit the station tonight. It could have had such a different ending. I am also grateful that William’s friends did just the right thing – they stayed calm and phoned for help.’
William added that he aimed to do some fundraising for the RNLI next year as a way of showing his gratitude.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Frank Taylor said: ‘We are delighted to see young Will at the boathouse today. The crew really appreciate his expression of thanks – it makes our training and fundraising all worthwhile.’
