A fisherman describes his two-hour ordeal after his boat capsized

BBC

Allan Grant said it was a “very traumatic” experience

A fisherman who was rescued after his pontoon capsized has thanked the team that saved his life.

Allan Grant’s boat capsized on the River Banwell near Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset. He clung to the dinghy in the water for two hours until help arrived.

Weston’s RNLI then moved to safety next to the Coastguard helicopter.

Grant said: “It was a terrible, very traumatic experience. I don’t want to experience this ever again. “I am very grateful to everyone, all the lifeboat crew, the RNLI and the coastguard.”

Grant said that when his dinghy capsized, he “fell into the water with it.” He managed to grab the ladder at the back of the boat.

“I didn’t know what to do, I panicked. My rowboat has sailed away,” Grant said.

RNLI/Holly Turner

Grant was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter

“I held on to the ladder and shouted for help, but no one came for a long time,” he added.

“I was in the water for two hours. I was holding on, my fingers were cold and white.”

He said he eventually saw a man walking up a hill near the river and Mr Grant was shouting and waving.

“He saw me and started running away. He raised the alarm,” Grant said.

Grant returned to thank the crew who saved his life

He has now made a full recovery and went to meet the team that saved him in Weston on Wednesday.

Simon Johnson was part of the rescue team and said: “We don’t usually hear the other side of Allan, it’s quite emotional.

“Good job Allan, lasting two hours was phenomenal.

“Now he knows firsthand that the life jacket is the most important thing.”

Grant said he will now “always wear a life jacket.”