A Scots man who was rescued from the North Sea feared he was about to die as his wife looked on from the shore. Chris Pike was rescued by the Macduff RNLI on the morning of Tuesday, December 17 after going for a dip in the Moray Firth.
The 58-year-old had been out walking his dog with his wife when deciding to swim, and soon found himself waded out 100 yards from the shore. He dived into a wave but after coming to the water’s surface realised a rip tide had dragged him further than he anticipated.
Chris, from Banff, says he was “woefully ill equipped” and wearing only shorts, gloves and boots. He was unable to float so decided to swim but didn’t get very far and due to the cold he says his “legs stopped working”.
Speaking to the Record, Chris explained: “I realised I was in big trouble at that point, and thought I was most likely going to die so I decided to fight as long as I could. I apologised in my head to my wife Sally who was watching from the beach and got on with trying to stay head above water.
“I couldn’t float and tried to swim but didn’t get far as my legs just stopped working due to the cold so with only my arms to use I thought I had no hope at that point. Thankfully Sally had already dialled 999 and the coastguard stayed on the phone to her trying to keep her calm and track my position.
“I’d gone under the water pretty significantly at least twice and knew I was close to death, but then I saw the helicopter. I knew then if I could hang on I might be okay and within two minutes the RNLI team had pulled me out the water onto a boat. If it wasn’t for them I’d have been dead and my wife arranging a funeral.”
The RNLI crew brought Chris ashore and he was airlifed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI). Chris says he “understands how stupid” it was to go in the water at this time of year and hopes to warn the public about the danger’s of entering the water at this time of year.
He also had high praise for the Macduff RNLI, the paramedic who dived into the water to save him, the doctor on the helicopter and all of the ARI staff. Chris continued: “I only intended to walk out into the sea for a little bit, dive through a wave and then wade back to the shore.
“It all got out of hand so quickly. I’m hugely embarrassed about this but also want to warn others. Do not go into the sea without the proper gear, have a buoyancy aid with you and ensure the tide is at the right point. Also get some local training.
“I just hope that by reading my story it might help other people to make better decisions.”
A coastguard spokesperson said: “A casualty was rescued by lifeboat in waters off Macduff in Aberdeenshire this morning. The alarm was raised at 9.45am, Tuesday 17 December.
“Coastguard Rescue Teams from Fraserburgh, Portsoy, Macduff, and Buckie were called, alongside the RNLI Macduff lifeboat and a rescue helicopter. The casualty was brought ashore and is being conveyed to hospital for further treatment.”
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