Swimmer swept into Thames shipping lane survives for FOUR hours

Rachel Blundy13 August 2015

A swimmer was lucky to survive after he was stranded in the River Thames for four hours before a lifeboat crew came to his rescue.

The man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was spotted bobbing in the water by people on a passing boat near Southend yesterday morning just after 9am.

He had drifted into the shipping channel, more than four miles from where he had originally entered the river, and was left desperately treading water, according to lifeboat crews.

The victim had "ditched the majority of his clothes" and "ingested a large amount of water" when he was eventually found by lifeboat volunteers from Gravesend RNLI.

He was successfully hauled into the boat, which took him to a dock at Holehaven before he was driven to hospital by ambulance.

Alan Carr, a spokesman for Gravesend RNLI, said today it was a "miracle" that the man had survived after spending four hours in the water.

He added the crew who had first spotted the victim from a commercial vessel had done a "fantastic job" to see him in the water and alert the Coastguard.

He told the Standard: "Just to spend four hours in the water is a miracle. He was very cold. He was just treading water where he was. He was just going with the tide.

"We are trying to establish why he was in there - he was not in there to swim. He was not wearing a swimsuit."

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He continued: "The commercial vessel waited until the life boat arrived. To be able to spot someone in the water is quite amazing. They did a fantastic job."

Describing the dramatic rescue, a volunteer for Gravesend RNLI wrote on the crew's official Facebook page: "The male was recovered onto the lifeboat and wrapped in a dry robe and blanket.

"The casualty had entered the water at Southend and ditched the majority of his clothes while swimming.

"He had been in the water for approximately four hours and had ingested a large amount of water.

"The casualty was extremely cold, but compliant and coherent.

"Once at Holehaven the casualty was handed over into the care of the attending Ambulance and the lifeboat released from service."

Facebook users hailed the lifeboat service following the successful rescue.

Paula Robb wrote: "Fantastic job well done crew and very lucky man".

Adam Collier wrote: "Wow!!! Great result. Could have easily been a very different outcome."

Colin Hooper said: "Well done to the ship who made the radio call for the coastguard. Also a big well done to the lifeboat crew who saved this person's life.

"Great team work by both parties in the rescue of this person. It could have been a different story if no one had found him."

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance service confirmed the victim was taken to Southend Hospital at about 9.45am for further treatment.

He said: "[The victim] was doing a long-distance swim. He had abdominal pain. He was conscious and breathing. He was not believed to be a life-threatening condition."

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