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'They risked their lives for others' safety'
"CAN you swim away from a ferry that's rolling over on top of you?" That was the horrendous dilemma faced by one of the Riverdance rescue heroes.
Master Air Crew officer Rich Taylor was at the heart of the Riverdance ferry drama.
He was the winchman lowered from a hovering RAF helicopter onto the deck of the ferry to rescue the crew and passengers.
"As I was lowered I was thinking - can you swim away from a ferry that's rolling over on top of you? I doubt it," he said.
Asked how he felt as he headed towards the deck of the boat, he added: "It's fair to say I was very, very nervous.
"We train for sea rescue every day we are on call, day and night, but we wouldn't normally practice in conditions as bad as those.
"It was some of the hardest flying I've ever been involved with.
"I've done some big jobs before but that was the scariest thing I've ever done."
Rich, known as "Rich Tea" to his colleagues, was one of the many members of the emergency services - including Lytham and Fleetwood's lifeboat crews – today praised for their actions in saving the passengers and crew of the ferry.
He added: "They couldn't just land me on the boat - there were big lumps of metal coming fast and high towards me.
"But most of that is down to the pilot, I couldn't do anything without the other three guys on the helicopter.
"People were sliding down the metalwork and we had to clamber back up to the wheelhouse with ropes.
"Everybody on board was quiet and probably as scared as I was. I think the majority of them were keen to get off, but were apprehensive about the winch. Some of them were swung off over the rail, which isn't how we like to do it but needs must. "
He revealed his team, including Fly Lt Lee Turner, Flt Lt Giles Rattcliffe and Sgt John Stephens, had managed just an hour's sleep before returning to work. He was back on duty at 9am today after a welcome rest.
For Fleetwood Lifeboat coxswain Paul Ashworth's the rescue provided him with the chance to command his boat for only the second time.
The mountainous seas presented a huge challenge for the man who had recently taken up his post - but his long experience and the bravery of five crewmates stood the test.
He said: "The weather were the worst I've ever seen.
"It was pretty bad, especially at night when you can't see where the waves are coming from.
"You can only just see out of the front windows.
"The most frightening thing is when it's black because you can't see what's happening.
"We get bad conditions but nearly as bad as that."
Control
Paul is a plumber by trade and has been a lifeboatman for 10 years and reckoned the waves were up to four metres in height.
He added: "There are things I would not do: I would'n't go on the Big One in Blackpool, I don't like not being in control - but we have faith in the boat."
Transport minister Tom Harris, who was in Blackpool to announced Government's funding for the resort's tram upgrade, was "blown away" by the efforts of the rescue teams.
He said: "The RNLI, coastguard and RAF and Navy teams have done a tremendous job at rescuing the crew and passengers of the ferry.
"It was totally dark, their visibility was hindered by the wind and the rain, but still they carried on with the job in hand.
"We always talk about hypothetical dangers some of these people have to face, actually last night was for real, these people put their lives at risk and I'm sure the 23 people on board are going to be eternally grateful for their efforts.
"I pay genuine tribute to what they have done, it must have been a hair-raising operation, but they did it faultlessly without injury to themselves or any passengers.''
His thoughts were echoed by Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Joan Humble who paid special tribute to the port's volunteer lifeboat crews.
The Labour MP said: "Having spoken to the coastguard our thanks must go to the everybody concerned.
"They are genuine heroes and I am very proud of the rescue crews here in Fleetwood and in other parts of the Fylde coast."
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: North west
