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A woman described the terrifying moment she heard a man yell for help after he drifted out in the River Mersey.
Julie Harris, from Greasby, was at Egremont Promenade on Monday at around 4.25pm when she heard a voice shout “help, help”. She turned around and saw a man waving his arms in the water.
People walking by told the 59-year-old they saw two men go into the water, but could only now see one.
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Speaking to the ECHO, Julie said: “So I immediately dialled 999 for the lifeboat service. I then was on the phone to the operator in Anglesey talking through what I was witnessing. He launched the Liverpool lifeboat, as it’s manned 24 hours and also launched the New Brighton boat too.”
Julie said a man passing by grabbed the life belt and “scrambled over the large rocks” to where the man was.
She added: “This took him a while as it was so difficult to do. He eventually got to the end of the rocks and threw the ring and the man swam to get it and he got to safety on the rocks. But he then went back in the water with the ring as he wanted to help his friend.
“The man who had thrown the ring called him back, I think, as the lifeboat was on its way.”
Other people at the promenade had spotted the other man way out in the middle of the River Mersey and was waving his arms for help. He was near the green buoy.
Julie was able to relay the information to the 999 dispatcher and this man was also rescued by the RNLI, coastguard and other emergency services, including Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue.
The 59-year-old said: “The police had arrived and one policeman scrambled over the rocks to reach the man saved by the lifering, to help him, he too then started trying to scramble back across the rocks but was very slow.
“The fire service and more police cars arrived and I relayed to them what had happened too. As I left an ambulance was arriving.”
Julie said she felt a “bit wobbly” following the incident and hoped the men were safe. HM Coastguard said they were called to reports of three people in the water off Egremont Promenade. A spokesperson said they were rescued and one was taken to hospital.
They said: “HM Coastguard was alerted at about 4.25pm on Monday, April 24 to reports of three people in the water off Egremont Promenade. The RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was sent from New Brighton and the coastguard rescue team from Wirral.
“Police attended and a crew was also sent from North West Ambulance Service and a marine fire and rescue team. Three people were recovered from the water with one taken to hospital.”
A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “New Brighton RNLI lifeboat volunteers launched at 4.30pm on Monday, April 24 to reports of two casualties in the water. On arrival at the scene, they were informed there were three casualties, with two in casualties in the care of other agencies.
“Following a swift search of the Wirral shore, the remaining casualty was found safe and the lifeboat volunteers were stood down.”
Merseyside and Rescue also provided a statement, a spokesperson said: “Two MFRS Fire engines, the Search and Rescue Team and the Marine Fire One Rescue Boat were called to Egremont Promenade yesterday after reports of two people in difficulties in the water.
“Crews were alerted at 4.35pm and on scene at 4.37pm. One casualty was recovered from the water by the crew of the Marine Fire One rescue boat conscious and breathing. The casualty was then taken on the boat to the Marine Rescue Unit at the Pier Head in Liverpool where North West Ambulance Service provided treatment for cold water shock.
“The second person exited the water themselves as the rescue took place. A member of the public who assisted received first aid from MFRS crews and was also treated by NWAS for minor cuts and bruises. Fire crews left the scene at 5.24pm.”
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