Thurcroft man relives sea rescue drama

A MAN dramatically rescued from the North Sea after being swept off the promenade at Whitley Bay by 30 foot waves has told how he feared he would drown.

Lucky-to-be-alive Liam Weston (20)—speaking exclusively to the Advertiser—denied reports that he had been “wave dodging” before having to be pulled with a tow line from the foaming sea by lifeguards.

For 20 minutes Liam clung for his life to a metal bar sticking out from the wall as the freezing waves crashed over his head.

“I thought I was going to die,” said Liam, of Thurcroft, who was in the resort celebrating a mate’s 19th birthday with eight other friends.

After a Saturday night out, the group, including Danny Light whose birthday it was, were out for a walk on the sea front after breakfast last Sunday when the life-threatening drama unfolded.

Liam, a roller doors fitter, said: “I wasn’t wave dodging, I don’t know where they got that from.

“We were just stood on the sea wall watching the waves and a big one came over and knocked me down steps into the sea.

“It was really scary, I was clinging for dear life on to a metal bar that was just sticking out of the wall.

“The water was always up to my neck and when the waves came my head was under water.

“The sea was really, really rough. Everybody was scared.

“Danny wanted to jump in after me but a lifeguard went in with an inflatable rescue tube and he got swept away by the waves.

“Eventually, the lifeguards got a tow line to me and pulled me out.

“Danny and my friends and family are all in a state of shock.”

Liam, now recovering at home in St Withold Avenue after being treated in hospital, escaped with bruised ribs, a bruised liver, cuts to his head and bruising and cuts to his stomach and both arms.

But the drama continued for Liam’s mother, who was on holiday in Turkey.

She heard the news in a text message from Liam’s dad Michael, who later phoned her.

Mr Weston (43) said: “For me, it was the last thing you want to hear on Father’s Day. I saw it on the news and the size of the 30 foot waves made my stomach tip.

“I would like to thank the volunteer lifeguard brigade at Tynemouth and the lifeguards from Cullercoats. They saved his life."

q Mr Weston is running a half-marathon in Worksop in October to raise funds for the Tynemouth Voluntary Lifeguard Brigade and the Cullercoats RNLI.