A Portishead sailor is looking forward to spending Christmas at home with his family – after his life was saved by the town’s lifeboat crew.
Ian Leigh was plucked to safety by Portishead RNLI in the summer after fell overboard near the rocks at Battery Point.
Lifesaving crews rushed to his aid, bringing him to safety on the shore and allowing him to access vital medical help.
Ian says without the RNLI he may not be here to spend Christmas with his wife and mum and is now appealing to people to back the charity’s ‘Perfect Storm’ fundraising appeal to help keep crews on the water.
The appeal has been launched at a time when the charity, which has stations in Portishead and Weston-super-Mare, has seen its resources plummet by £28.6 million in 2018 – despite crews being busier than ever.
Ian was sailing just off Battery Point, Portishead in the summer when his boat started drifting dangerously towards the rocks.
As he tried to start the outboard motor, it came off, pulling him back into the water.
His quick thinking crewmate Jake managed to drag Ian back on board while steering the boat to safety.
A Mayday call was issued by the coastguard, with Portishead RNLI and the coastguard helicopter launched, racing to the scene.
Lifeboat crews arrived quickly getting on board the boat to find both men had suffered minor cuts and bruises.
However, Ian’s condition started to deteriorate as they headed back to shore with crew members concerned he was at risk of becoming unconscious.
The lifeboat crew radioed ahead asking for further medical assistance and were were met by more support from the Portishead Coastguard team and RNLI shore crew from the station.
Within minutes the ambulance service arrived on scene, taking Ian to hospital for further treatment.
Fortunately Ian has made a full recovery.
Ian said: “Now a bit of time has passed it’s definitely sunk in how close I was to things being very different.
“It’s certainly put a different tilt on my life and had a big impact on how I think.
“I am so thankful for the Portishead RNLI lifeboat volunteers for turning up and saving me.
"To think they do this voluntarily is just incomprehensible.
“I am urging people to donate whatever you can to support the Perfect Storm appeal and help the RNLI crews to continue saving lives.’
New figures released by the RNLI show its volunteer lifeboat crews in the south west are 500 per cent busier than 40 years ago.
The charity is says it is facing a ‘Perfect Storm’ with more people than ever needing its help, meaning support from the public is even more vital.
During the festive period last year, RNLI volunteers at the region’s 28 stations launched to the rescue 21 times compared with just four call outs in 1979.
Nationally, the causes of callouts over the festive period have changed over the years.
In the early 80s the most common reason was to commercial fishing vessels and powered craft.
Since 2000, many of those needing help are often just visiting the coast, with slips, trips and falls and tidal cut offs also a contributing factor to RNLI call outs.
The Perfect Storm appeal has been launched to raise £1.8 million and recruit 12,000 new supporters.
To support the RNLI’s Perfect Storm appeal this Christmas visit RNLI.org/ThePerfectStorm.
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