Saved from drowning A 71-YEAR-OLD MAN was out fishing alone in his 9ft wooden dinghy on the afternoon of Monday September 9, 1985.

The weather was fair, there was a moderate south-south-westerly breeze, force 4, with a slight sea in the shelter of the land. It was three hours before high water springs with the tide setting easterly at about one and a half knots.

The dinghy was at anchor, lying to the tide, beam on to the weather when its occupant reached across the boat for a bailer. The shift of weight made the dinghy capsize and the man was thrown into the water. He managed to keep hold of the boat, right it and shout for help but then he lost his grip on the boat and began to drift away. He was not a good swimmer and was also wearing sea boots and oilskins with no lifejacket. He did succeed in grabbing an oar which was floating nearby but could not stay afloat and eventually lost consciousness.

Another boat, a 15ft clinker built Norwegian style dinghy was anchored about 150 to 200 yards away with Mr Gary Thomas and Mr Leonard Pritchard aboard; they were also fishing. Gary Thomas saw the other boat capsize and heard the man's cries. The two men immediately retrieved their fishing tackle and anchor, started their outboard and headed towards the capsized boat.

They arrived at the spot where the man had disappeared and could see him below the surface. As neither of them could swim particularly well and as they had no lifejackets and were wearing heavy sea-boots and oilskins, entering the water was out of the question.

Thomas leaned outboard and succeeded in grabbing hold of the man. But as he pulled him to the surface the weight caused his own boat to sink her gunwale.

Leonard Pritchard moved quickly to counteract the weight and Thomas was able to pull the man up to the gunwale.

However, he could not get him on board and Pritchard was unable to move to help him for fear of capsizing the boat. Instead, Pritchard steered the boat away from the lines and anchor rope of the empty boat and headed towards the shore with the man being towed alongside.

The casualty was purple faced and not breathing. Thomas shook him repeatedly against the gunwale, slapped him and shouted at him to try and get some response. He continued to do this for about three minutes after which time the man began to cough and bring up sea water. The shaking had induced a form of artificial respiration and stimulated breathing. After two more minutes the man was conscious enough to be able to hold on to the gunwale and follow instructions. They turned him round so that he had his back to theboat and his arms over the gunwale.

Then Pritchard counteracted the weight by leaning outboard on the opposite side of the boat while Thomas heaved the man aboard by his trousers. The boat then headed for the beach.

During the quarter of a mile run to the shore which took about six minutes both men kept asking the survivor questions to try to keep him conscious.

He was coughing continually and making choking noises but as neither rescuer had any First Aid experience they could give no other treatment.

At the beach numerous by-standers hauled the boat clear of the water with the three men aboard. At this point the lifeboat maroons were fired. Leonard Pritchard ran the 400 yards to Moelfre lifeboathouse to tell the coxswain that the casualty was already ashore but in need of medical attention. Coxswain William Roberts rang for an ambulance and the station honorary adviser. They both arrived ten minutes later and after briefly examining the man, Dr Parry Jones recommended he be taken to hospital. The man refused to go, saying he now felt fine so the ambulance and doctor left and the man went home. He was later taken ill at home and was taken to hospital where he stayed for a week.

After they had handed over the casualty, Thomas and Pritchard put off again, recovered the abandoned dinghy and towed it back to Moelfre.

Gary Thomas and Leonard Pritchard were presented with the thanks of the Institution on vellum for their swift and effective action, carried out in the true tradition of aiding a fellow mariner in distress..