'I owe my life to him' - Doctor who saved Blackpool police officer's life during RNLI sea rescue remembered
"I'm here today because of this gentleman, I owe my life to him".
A doctor credited with saving the life of a Blackpool police officer following a tragic sea rescue incident has been remembered at his funeral.
Relatives, friends and colleagues gathered in Morecambe on August 4 to pay their respects to Doctor John Frankland, who died aged 88. Among those attending the service was Blackpool RNLI Launch Authority and shop manager Pat Abram, who also delivered a tribute.
Doctor Frankland, who trained as a doctor and later worked as a GP in Lancaster, became an internationally recognised expert in cave rescue, hypothermia and the treatment needed to help patients recover. He was regarded as one of the few specialists of his generation in the field, both in the UK and around the world.
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His expertise proved life-saving on January 5, 1983, when fate brought him together with Mr Abram. At the time, Mr Abram was a young Blackpool police officer who had entered treacherous seas at Gynn Square in an attempt to rescue a member of the public. Around 20 minutes later, he was pulled from the water and handed to waiting ambulance crews.
Doctor Frankland was passing the scene on his journey home to Lancaster and stopped to offer assistance. With no pulse evident, he immediately began working alongside ambulance staff, using his specialist knowledge of hypothermia to revive Mr Abram before accompanying him to hospital and guiding his treatment during the early stages of his recovery.
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Three of Mr Abram's fellow officers and the member of the public they had attempted to rescue lost their lives in the incident. Despite declining health in later years, Doctor Frankland returned to Blackpool in 2023 to attend the 40th anniversary memorial at Gynn Square, where he was reunited with Mr Abram.
Reflecting on that meeting, Mr Abram said: "I'm here today because of this gentleman, I owe my life to him".
Paying tribute following Doctor Frankland's funeral, Blackpool RNLI said he would always hold a special place in the town's history and in the hearts of those whose lives he touched. The charity added: "Remembering a very special person, our thoughts are with the family and friends of Doctor John Frankland, 1938 to 2026. Thank you, and Rest in Peace."