Fisherman rescues two people swept off Lihou causeway

People crossing the tidal causeway should keep to published causeway opening times, as the current in the area is notoriously strong.

On Sunday the causeway was open between 12.36pm and 4.06pm, with the spring tide climbing to 10m at 8.22pm.

But at 4.46pm Guernsey Coastguard received a call from a family, who had been cut off by the tide on Lihou Island.

Two of the family of six had attempted to cross the causeway and had been swept away by the strong southerly tidal flow.

The St Peter Port All Weather Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey and the St Peter Port Inshore Lifeboat Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan were both alerted for immediate launch.

But the local fishing vessel Little M, fishing in Rocquaine Bay, responded to the call for help from Guernsey Coastguard.

Tristan Esteves, who has been fishing out of Portelet for 55 years, was at the helm. He arrived on the scene just after 5pm.

‘I was out fishing when the call came through that there were two people in the water,’ he said.

‘The coastguard thought they were clinging to a rock, but when I got there it was difficult to see them, they were floating in about 15 feet of water.’

‘It was a young girl of about 13 or 14 and her father – they were huddled together and very vulnerable.’

He knew he had to move quickly.

‘I pulled both aboard my boat and wrapped as much clothing as possible around the girl – she was quite shaken,’ he said.

‘Had they been in the longer in the water I think it would have been a different outcome. They had been dragged south somewhat but there was slack water for about 30 minutes, after that they would have been taken north towards Vazon.’

The casualties were then transferred to the lifeboats and the four family members stranded on Lihou Island were also recovered by the Inshore Lifeboat.

They were all reunited at St Peter Port on the Spirit of Guernsey where they were met by paramedics.

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