Latest news with #rescuer
Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
East Lothian family 'thought they would die' after waves dragged them out to sea
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An East Lothian family are urging others to be safe at the seaside after they were left fearing for their lives. Kerry O'Hara and her partner Lewis Patchatt, who live in Athelstaneford, were at Tyninghame Beach with three children on May 24. Just as they were going to leave. Kerry's 12-year-old daughter got back in the water - before they heard screaming. The couple ran in to reach her, and found themselves being dragged out to see. Kerry remembers Lewis telling her he loved her, and that she should save herself. Recalling the terrifying incident, she said: 'It was a beautiful day on this stunning beach, and myself, Lewis and the three kids were all having fun. "The waves were a bit high, and it was a quite windy, but we were only in the sea up to our knees. In the afternoon we were getting ready to leave when my 12-year-old daughter went back into the water. "The next minute we heard her screaming and saying she was stuck. Her feet couldn't touch the ground." Kerry managed to get her daughter and pass her to a man on the beach, before a strong current came and 'took her away'. When she managed to calm herself down, Kerry had been carried out 'a fair distance'. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Lewis went after her, but the waves were getting bigger. They remember feeling like they 'weren't getting anywhere'. Kerry added: "I was holding onto Lewis who was panicking. We were just trying to keep our heads above water and it felt like an eternity passed. Lewis was telling me he couldn't hold on any longer and he was going to die. "He kept going under and I had to pull him back up. He was telling me he loved me and I should save myself. I was getting frantic because I couldn't leave him and there wasn't a way out. "That's when I saw the man with the surfboard coming and I told Lewis to hang on. The surfer had to struggle to against the tide, but he reached us and got Lewis onto the board." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. The rescuer helped the couple back to the sand, with the RNLI lifeboat from Dunbar Harbour arriving. They administered medical aid to Lewis, who was then airlifted to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and treated for water in his lungs. Kerry said: 'If the surfer wasn't there, I think we would've drowned. 'I hadn't seen any danger in the water. I only realised how much trouble I was in when I felt the strength of the current pulling at my legs. I would encourage everyone going to the beach to be aware of riptides and stay vigilant.' You can find advice for staying safe in the water here.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Subtle roadside detail that poses danger to Aussie drivers: 'Easy to spot'
Tiny dirt tracks on the side of the road are easily missed by motorists in Australia. But knowing where they are in your suburb or town could help lessen the odds of a costly collision with a large native animal like a kangaroo, wallaby or wombat. Wildlife tends to habituate the same paths, and rescuer Kate Turner estimates 80 per cent of vehicle strikes occur within 100 metres of established road crossings as native animals tread the well-worn path. 'It's incredibly frustrating. I can remember once removing a dead wombat off the road, only to find three other bodies that had been dragged off in the same spot,' she told Yahoo News. 'Even birds tend to get hit in the same spots.' Related: 🚗 Costly insurance claims for Aussies hitting kangaroos on the rise As the founder of Murrindindi Ranges Wildlife Shelter, Kate's experience has been focused around roads northeast of Melbourne. But the same principles apply across Australia. While many councils erect wildlife warning signs close to known crossings, Kate doesn't think they're the answer. She wants drivers to get to know where their pathways are and to slow down. 'People just need to pay attention… I've moved bodies from directly underneath the signs warning about wildlife,' she said. 'Maybe flashing signs with words saying 'slow down' might work, but people just do what they want without regard.' 🐕, Rare discovery in Aussie bush by sniffer dog 😳 'Incredible' 500-year-old discovery hidden behind invasive weed 🐠 Fisherman shocked by 'unfathomable' scene at beaches While not all motorists care about wildlife, hitting an animal can be expensive, and when it comes to kangaroos they can cause enough damage to write off a vehicle. "If you pay attention these paths are easy to spot. Learn them, slow down around them, and expect roos to come out at those spots. Treat them like zebra crossings," she advised on social media. Kate recommends drivers get to know worn paths that resemble bike or horse tracks. If you're driving long distances, it can be impossible to spot all of them, but knowing where they are in your local area is an easy task. 'This month I've already euthanised at least eight animals due to injuries sustained from motor vehicle accidents, and had three enter care,' she told Yahoo. 'Plus I found a live wombat joey in a deceased mum who was killed by a car.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
