Updated: Swimmer rescued in sea drama

5:38pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Echo News By Emma Thomas

A YOUNG swimmer was pulled from the water at Southend seafront after getting into difficulty.

The police helicopter carried out a seafront search over Southend at about 5pm and was replaced by the RAF search and rescue helicopter shortly afterwards.

The swimmer, who was in the water in between Pebbles Two cafe and the Sealife Centre, was pulled from the sea by three young rescuers.

He was fully conscious but stretchered off the beach and taken to Southend Hospital by ambulance for further care.

FULL STORY, PICTURES AND INTERVIEW WITH RESCUERS EXCLUSIVELY IN TOMORROW'S ECHO.

Comments(17)

APR says...
5:48pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Wow !

Perhaps they just popped down for an ice-cream ?

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jojo72 says...
6:34pm Wed 5 Sep 12

There should be more warnings of changing tides on the beach. Good luck to the anglers who are going to patrol the beach and no doubt save lives.

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VictoriaLS says...
6:50pm Wed 5 Sep 12

I saw the helicopter as I was driving towards the Kursaal. Apparently the young man had decided to swim to Kent - and he got caught by a quick tide which pulled him out quickly. There was a police boat, rnli boat, coastguard vehicle, 2 ambulance cars and an ambulance! Please help me - I'm so nosey!!!!!!

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southendshrimper says...
6:51pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Here we go again more warning signs. If you don't know about the tide coming in & out then don't go into the water. If you are not a strong swimmer don't go into the sea. It is not nuclear science is it? Next thing people will want is a warning sign that the sun rises in the morning "apart from in the British summer time" or it gets dark at night! Come on people a little bit of common sence.

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firedog says...
6:59pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Well said Shrimper

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Max Impact says...
7:16pm Wed 5 Sep 12

People ran in terror as a large white puffy thing was seen to slowly approach the sun (that is that big yellow shiny thing in the sky) and gobble it up.

As the ambient light faded and the temperatures dipped slightly thousands fled in terror and took cover in the nearest buildings fearing the sky was about to fall in.

The large white puffy thing than pooed out the sun as it continued its track across the sky, the ambient light returned and the temperatures went back up, those cowering in the building slowly emerged from their boltholes blinking in the brilliant light.
It has since been discovered that this white puffy thing was in fact a cloud, a naturally occurring phenomena, much like the tide comes in, tide go’s out, tide comes in, tide go’s out.

A group are now calling for more signs stating the blinking obvious.

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Tulip44 says...
7:32pm Wed 5 Sep 12

I was there (on the beach) when it was happening, I heard someone saying that he fell off the pier.....

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hopfrog says...
7:39pm Wed 5 Sep 12

The person involved was sitting down chinnerys knock back the tequilla on the table next to my neighbour he would go in the sea after drinking so much is beyond me but i do hope he is ok

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EssexPerson says...
7:57pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Agree with Shrimper, no need for freaking warning signs just common sense.
Mankind isnt going to be wiped out by a meteor, it'll be stupidity and wanting a warning sign everywhere.
Whats next? Everyone having to have a big sign above their bed saying "warning you may get hurt or die today"

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JVanLooy says...
8:53pm Wed 5 Sep 12

What actually happend is he and his mates where having a couple of beers and then one of his mates betted 50 quid that he couldnt swim to a boat and back and he tried it and got taken out by the tide i was there and had to give a statement to the echo news reporters

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babycakes-rebecca says...
9:23pm Wed 5 Sep 12

i heard he was swimming out to a boat for £50 , silly really , should get swimming lessons first !!

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southendshrimper says...
9:33pm Wed 5 Sep 12

The police & RNLI should be allowed to charge muppets like this.

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Alec Cikes says...
10:59pm Wed 5 Sep 12

I tend to agree with you, Shrimper. Muppets who get into difficulty with no common sense should be obliged to foot the bill.
The next time he considers jumping off the pier for some ludicrous measly bet, maybe he'll consider that we don't always have nine lives.

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v.randy says...
1:51am Thu 6 Sep 12

Bad combination DRINK,WARM WEATHER AND A BRITISH MALE.

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Siraton says...
6:58am Thu 6 Sep 12

Totally agree that this fool should foot the bill as this is down to his own stupidity and people should start to take responsibility for their actions as they make think twice next time and not waste resources.

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johnny johns says...
1:30pm Fri 7 Sep 12

This bloke was well boozed up.
I personally would have sent his mates in after him.
He'll probably try it again sometime.
Time was wasted by the police when they could have been doing more useful things.

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v.randy says...
4:33am Sat 8 Sep 12

Mother claims that 'T-Jay?'had extensive tests done at hospital and they say he was not drinking.At least drink( though not excusable) would explain 'T-Jays' actions.
So a 19 year old sober ' T-Jay', at his physical peak in terms of age has to be dragged out of the water by two children...I'd pretend to be drunk just to save my embarrassment.
Sorry to be harsh but these prats cost us all time, money and resources.

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