Whitchurch couple rescued at sea praise RNLI ‘heroes’

Oct 9 2008 by Andrew Bowan, Whitchurch Herald

A COUPLE rescued from the high seas have broken their silence to pay tribute to the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

Colin and Caroline Woods were in dire straits 30 miles off the coast of North Wales when they sent out an SOS.

Their 37ft yacht, the Odyssee, was in danger of being swamped and foundering when they put out a distress call.

The couple only decided to step forward to give their side of the story in gratitude to the selfless crew who put their necks on the line to save them.

“They were fantastic,” said Mr Woods, a 46-year-old marketing consultant of Chester Avenue, Whitchurch.

He and his wife Caroline, an A&E nurse at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, decided they owed it to RNLI crews across Britain to trumpet the fantastic job they do.

“We told reporters it wasn’t us because we like our privacy – but we’ve since decided that we owe it to the people who rescued us to make public our great admiration for the absolutely fantastic job they do,” said Mr Woods.

“They are lifesavers and deserve every tribute they receive.”

He and his wife were sailing from the Isle of Man to their berth in Conwy marina when their yacht snagged the rope of a fishing net anchored to the seabed.

After spending several hours trying to dislodge the rope, the couple decided to alert the coastguard to their increasing desperate plight.

Mr Woods said: “We were in deep trouble. There was a big swell and the waves were coming over our stern.

“We didn’t panic but it was a very serious situation. As soon as we knew the RNLI were coming we felt better about our predicament.

“When we saw their boat it was being tossed around like a cork by the waves. I did wonder how they were going to get near to us to help but the skill of their helmsman was outstanding.

“He manoeuvred first to get lifeboat crewman Tim James on board and then again to get the cutting gear on board.

“Without their intervention I’m not certain we would have made it through the night. If we didn’t capsize, we’d be in danger of being hit by a container ship. It would have been a very scary night.”

Mr Woods, who only learned to sail three years ago with the Shropshire Sailing Club in Ellesmere, says their ordeal hasn’t put them off.

“There’s nothing like the fresh sea air and the wind in your sails,” he said. “I love it – and Caroline likes the social side. We’re looking forward to sailing to Ireland in a few months time.”

Mr Woods added they had been very unlucky to snag the discarded fishing net line – and that they were extremely safety-conscious.

He said: “We have two life rafts, two radios… two of everything. But it doesn’t matter how many precautions you take, you can always meet the unexpected.

“That’s why we’re so incredibly lucky to have the RNLI. They volunteer to risk their lives every day around our coasts. They’re all heroes in my eyes.”