Dramatic moment a fisherman was rescued from freezing waters after being swept into sea by a freak wave
The music teacher has praised the lifeboat volunteers who rushed to his aid and is urging others to help raise money for the service
THIS is the moment a fisherman was saved from freezing, stormy waters by lifeboat volunteers after being knocked into the sea by a huge wave.
Music teacher Mike Dooley was swept into the sea while fishing on the harbour wall in Porthcawl, Wales.
Although sea conditions were "rough" that day the 41-year-old thought he was safe as there were plenty of other fishermen nearby.
After being flung into the icy waters, the musician desperately tried to swim back towards the pier but the current swept him out to sea.
He was battered by big waves and swallowed water.
Mike, who lives in Caerphilly, said: “I saw the wave coming over and before I had time to react, I was knocked flat on the ground.
“My hands were out and I was being dragged across the concrete of the pier and then suddenly I felt nothing beneath me and I just dropped over the edge.
“I was only in the water for a few minutes, but already the pier looked small and a long way away.
“It was terrifying and I was starting to wonder if I could survive. I was trying not to take on any water but I could feel it in my lungs.”
Other fishermen raised the alarm and tried to help him as he drifted further out to sea and started to suffer from hypothermia.
Mike added: "I was getting desperate, so I started to scream for help.
“Just after that, I felt hands grabbing my coat and I thought: ‘Oh thank God, the lifeboat is here.’”
The Atlantic 85 lifeboat, stationed at Porthcawl, was launched and the volunteer crew located Mike a quarter of a mile out to sea, face up in the water.
It took 10 minutes between the alarm being raised and the lifeboat reaching his freezing body.
RNLI volunteer Simon Emms jumped into the water and pulled him aboard the lifeboat.
Simon said: “When we reached Mike, he was in pretty bad situation – the sea was terribly cold and he was unable to stay afloat for much longer.
“His hands were badly grazed from where he had been desperately trying to cling to the pier.”
Mike made a full recovery after being taken to hospital and was well enough to perform with his string quartet days later.
Following his near death experience, which took place just days before Christmas last year, Mike met Simon - as well as other volunteer crew members Chris Missen and Matthew Picton - and is now encouraging people to donate to the RNLI.
Mike said: "I wanted to do what I could to help and raise awareness of the amazing job these volunteers do.
“I will be eternally thankful to them.
“They are heroes who put themselves in dangerous situations to help others. I owe my life to them and I can’t say anything more than that.”
Simon added: “It could have been a very different Christmas for Mike’s family had the alarm not been raised in time.
“We’re just thankful we reached him when we did and are delighted to be meeting him again. It makes what we do worthwhile.”
