Dog-walker tells of dramatic moment she helped save kite-surfers struggling in River Humber
A DOG WALKER has told of her elation when two men were plucked to safety from the River Humber thanks to her keen eyesight and knowledge of the coast.
Christine Nightingale was instrumental in rescuing kite surfers who got into trouble in the water last Saturday.
They were rescued by volunteer RNLI lifeboatmen with the help of the Humber Coastguard, as reported, after being alerted by Christine.
Thankfully, the 64-year-old, of Seaford Road, Cleethorpes, knew the precise grid reference of where the kite surfers were in difficulty.
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The coastguard assumed she had a GPS system on an electronic device, but Christine knew the information from memory because she conducts surveys on behalf of The Shark Trust.
She regularly logs sightings of ray fish with her husband Mike, and they report back to the trust.
The couple walk their dog Ellie on the beach every day and Christine, a former council electoral officer, also collects shells to make mosaics.
"I watch the kite surfers all the time," she said. "That morning I could see he was getting into difficulty and his kite went down.
"I saw the other kite surfer go over to him and I realised they were both in trouble.
"Another man dumped his kite at the shore and swam out, which he should not have done. That's when I rang 999 and spoke to the coastguard.
"When they brought them safely to the shore I was elated. I am glad I was there with my phone.
"I was very concerned for them, because it was so rough and cold. They looked exhausted."
Both men thanked Christine for her prompt action.
As reported, they are thought to be aged in their 40s, one from Aldborough and the other from the Sheffield area, and got into difficulty as a snow squall blew in from the sea.
A Coastguard officer said: "Christine was definitely switched on and helped a lot.
"The water was shallow at that point, so we called on the Cleethorpes Lifeboat crew to help bring them to shore. They did not require medical treatment.
"Kite surfing is exhilarating, but needs to be done in a group with someone ashore to keep a watch on everyone.
"No one should enter the water to attempt such a rescue.
"There have been numerous occasions when the would-be rescuer also ended up in trouble and needed rescuing, too."
3 Comments
by GyMonkey
Monday, February 11 2013, 7:27AM
“well done ! your nothing short of a HERO !”
by Wilderness
Saturday, February 09 2013, 11:47AM
“Well done Christine. As the coastguard said you were "definitely switched on".
Nice to see a good news story.”
by ianhale1965
Saturday, February 09 2013, 9:47AM
“Well done Lady, your knowledge of the coast probably saved lives. Well done to the Lifeboat crew and Coast Guard also for their skill in rescuing them and for their prompt response.”