Hero Coastguard reunited with two young children he rescued after they were swept out to sea

Jamie Magee pictured with Eve Watson and Fearn Hayley
Photo credit:  Jim Johnson
An off duty Coastguard has been publicly thanked by the mothers of two young children he dramatically rescued after they were swept out to sea at Farr Beach, Scotland. 


The drama unfolded on Friday 25 August as Eve Watson (8) and Fearn Hayley (10) were on their boogie boards on Farr Beach, watched by Fearn’s mother Rhona Hayley.  Conditions on the beach took a dangerous turn and the two youngsters suddenly found themselves being swept out to sea and unable to paddle back to shore.

A frantic Mrs Hayley waded in as deeply as she could but was unable to reach the by now deeply distressed girls whose screaming could be heard onshore.
Meanwhile onlookers on the beach raised the alarm and several 999 calls were made to the Coastguard. Melvich and Melness Coastguard Rescue Teams and Thurso RNLI Lifeboat were immediately sent to the scene.
But whilst the rescue teams were on route, local lobster fisherman and off duty Coastguard Station Officer Jamie Magee, who had been delivering crabs to a local household at the time, was alerted to the ongoing situation.  He quickly sprung into action, proving without doubt, that a Coastguard is never really off duty.
Jamie said: “I carried on down to Port Swingo as fast as I could and spotted the girls in the sea about 350 yards away heading towards Glais Geo (rock stacks) on the other side of the bay. I could hear them screaming and see their heads sticking out of the water.”
Fortunately Jamie’s 13ft Pioneer dinghy was moored at Port Swingo with its outboard motor fuelled up and ready to go.
“I ran the tender into the water as fast as I could and, as I turned it to head out in the bay, I was throwing fish boxes out on to the rocks. I must have looked like a madman!” It took Jamie around 15 minutes to catch up with the girls and his Coastguard water rescue training kicked in as he pulled them on board and assessed their conditions.
“Fearn, who was wearing a wet suit, was still screaming but Eve, who was dressed in a swimming costume was quiet and when I pulled her aboard, it was clear that she was very, very cold.  It was very clear that she was starting to suffer from the onset of hypothermia and I needed to get her to the paramedics on shore.”
It later transpired that the zip on Eve’s wet suit had broken earlier that day and she had opted to wear just her swimsuit.
He took the girls back to Port Swingo where paramedics on scene were already waiting with blankets.  Jamie went on to say:  “It all happened so fast but I knew that I would have the backup of the Coastguard Rescue Teams, the RNLI and the Paramedics once I returned safely to shore with the girls.  It was good fortune that the girls were spotted quickly and the alarm was raised with Coastguard. They had a really close encounter and I can only hope this raises awareness of how quickly people can get out their depth and in trouble on our beaches. It’s a good reminder to get the message out there that if anyone is in trouble on the coast they should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

Caroline Watson, mother of Eve, said it had been a terrifying experience which could easily have ended in tragedy had it not been for the quick actions of Jamie. She said: “It is awful to think what the outcome could have been if help hadn’t been so close at hand.  It was a terrifying time that could have ended in tragedy had it not been for the quick actions of the people on the beach in calling for help and Jamie spotting the ambulance and launching his boat.
“We are also extremely grateful to both the Coastguard and RNLI for their response.”
Hailed as a hero by his colleagues,  HM Coastguard Deputy Head of Coastal Operations Richard Hackwell said: ‘Jamie’s quick thinking that afternoon saved the lives of two children.  I’m extremely proud of his actions that day, which prove that Coastguards are never off duty and are always there to help members of the public in their time of need.’


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