Two swimmers were rescued last night (May 21) after experiencing difficulty exiting the water at a quarry in Castletown.
At 8:30pm the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue service were called to reports of two swimmers having difficulty exiting the water.
A rescue appliance from Castletown Fire Station and the Technical Rescue Team from Douglas Station responded to the incident.
The officer in charge of the first attending appliance from Castletown quickly made contact with the swimmers and discovered they were out of the water but stuck on a ledge, just above the water line below a steep rock face.
Rescued
Due to the difficult access the Technical Rescue Team deployed an inflatable rescue sled to reach the two boys and bring them to a safer area in order for them to be winched to safety using line systems.
The Isle of Man Ambulance Service carried out precautionary checks and treated them for hypothermia.
Water safety
The service would like remind the public of the following water safety advice with regards to open water swimming:
- Cold water shock can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty getting in and out of water;
- The depth of the water changes and can be unpredictable with hidden obstacles and obstructions under the water;
- Do your research and plan your exit before you get into the water;
- If you get in to trouble in the water and feel overwhelmed, Float to Live – tilt your head back, relax and try to breathe normally, move your hands to help stay afloat and spread your arms and legs to improve stability.
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