Thames clippers crew hailed for river rescue

By Simon Hayes on May 29, 2008 9:00 AM |

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A THAMES Clippers’ crew has been hailed as heroes after helping save a man from drowning in the river.

The crew of the Hurricane, based at Trinity Buoy Wharf, helped pull the man to safety last Thursday evening after he jumped off London Bridge.

The Hurricane – manned by captain Joe Maw, mate Ben Mann and deckhand Ross Myers – was about to leave London Bridge City Pier at 7pm when a passenger spotted the man in the water. He is believed to be about 35 and of Turkish origin.

The passenger informed the crew and the quick-thinking sailors threw the stranded man a lifebelt while they raised the alarm. A boat from the Metropolitan Police Marine Unit, based at Wapping, and the Tower RNLI lifeboat were quickly on the scene.

A police spokesman said: “The crew of the Hurricane managed to get a line and life ring to the man who ended up very precariously under the bow of the vessel, on the inside of the starboard hull.

“The lifeboat carried out a very risky and difficult manoeuvre and managed to recover the male who was taken to St Katherine’s Pier.

“The actions of the Clipper crew should be highly commended because I have no doubt that if it had not been for their swift actions the male would almost have certainly perished.”

A spokeswoman for the RNLI said: “When the man was pulled from the water he was unconscious and wasn’t breathing. The crew worked on him straight away and revived him. He was taken back to the pier and on to hospital. He’s lucky to be alive.”

Thames Clippers crews are trained for emergencies but this was the first time Mr Mann and Mr Myers had been called upon.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “The Coastguard can request that you become a rescue vessel but the crew had already taken it upon themselves to act.

“In a fast-flowing ebb tide, you only normally get one chance to recover a person. The person was held in place until the lifeboat arrived. By the time he had reached the Hurricane he was cold and exhausted.”

It was back to business as usual for the Hurricane after the dramatic rescue.

“As a company we recognise their achievements and will reward them for their efforts,” said the Clippers spokeswoman.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk