Flares deployed at night to find man up to his neck in water

28/08/2021

Coastguard officers deployed flares at night to find a man up to his neck in water at Fleetwood, Lancashire.

The alarm was raised by 19-year-old Kye Cudlip. He heard the man shouting and Fleetwood Coastguard hailed him a hero for helping to save a life.

The man was taken from the water to Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, suffering from water inhalation.

Fleetwood Coastguard posted on Facebook. “Our officers arrived on scene to liaise with the first informant, 19-year-old Kye Cudlip who turned out to be the hero of the night. Having a leisurely walk along the seafront, he heard shouts for help from the darkness. Not having his mobile phone with him, he ran to the local police station to call 999.

“He returned to the beach to meet up with Coastguard Rescue Officers on scene. He pointed us in the direction of the shouts and we deployed a number of illuminating flares that after the fourth flare revealed the silhouette of the casualty who was now up to their neck in water. During this period the casualty had made their own 999 call.”

They had been advised by our coordination centre at Holyhead to ‘Float to live’.

Kye truly a hero

“Both Lifeboats launched from RNLI Fleetwood and we guided them to the casualty.”

They were assisted by colleagues from Knott-End Coastguard Rescue Team.

“The casualty was recovered from the water and passed into our care awaiting assessment from North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust & taken to Blackpool Victoria hospital suffering from water inhalation.

“This could have been a very different outcome for the casualty had it not been for Kye’s swift action, we have no doubt that this young man’s action contributed to saving a life! Well done Kye! You were truly the hero of the night.”

The image is from Fleetwood Coastguard’s Facebook feed.