Fisherman helps save elderly canoeists from sea

The men, both believed to be from Felpham, were suffering from hypothermia after they had spent 90 minutes in the water on Monday, June 15.

Aged 72 and 73, they were spotted by a fisherman away from their motorised canoe.

The fisherman was able to recover one of the casualties, but he was unable to locate the second in the choppy conditions.

He contacted the coastguard about 1.45pm and both Littlehampton lifeboats were launched.

The crew of Blue Peter 1 quickly located the missing man and gave him the medical attention he urgently needed. They handed him over to paramedics standing by on Bognor beach.

Meanwhile the second lifeboat '“ the Spirit of Juniper '“ met the fishing vessel to take off the second canoeist.

He appeared to be in a slightly better condition than his companion, but still needed attention from the lifeboat crew and the paramedics.

Lifeboat operations manager Nick White said: "It wasn't people rescued, it was lives saved. A little longer in the water could have had a tragic outcome.

"A great job from the fishermen and our six crew members."

One man was wearing a non-inflating life preserver and the other had on an un-inflated life jacket.

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