St Ouen’s riptide hero is a serving soldier
Tuesday 28th July 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Abbey Chapman (12) and Tylor Ryan (10) with their rescuer, Welsh Guard Robert Jones, happy to be back on dry land after Sunday evening’s ordeal.
THE hero who saved two children from drowning in St Ouen’s Bay was a visiting soldier who served in Iraq.
Sergeant Robbie Jones (36), of the Welsh Guards, rescued a ten-year-old boy and a young girl on Sunday evening after they and a group of adults were swept out to sea by a ferocious riptide.
Surfers also joined the rescue operation at the Watersplash, helping Sandrine Locher (25), Vanessa Wiliams (33) and Rita Jesus (26) to safety.
Seven people were taken to hospital for check ups, including 12-year-old Abbey Chapman and ten-year-old Tylor Ryan, who has sworn never to go in the sea again.
Sgt Jones, who served in Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, said that he had never been in such a powerful current.
‘I had heard about the sea being bad but never thought it could be like that,’ he said.
• See Tuesday’s JEP for full story.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Well done sir. It takes real courage to get into strong seas.
A similar thing happened in Tenby, South Wales where 40 school children were saved by three lifeguards.
Brave people
Report abuse
Sgt Jones i would just like to say that was a very brave thing you done also the surfers as the tides can be very dangerous there.
You are all heroes.
Report abuse
No mean feat.respect. and raises a problem with an easy solution.on a weekend particularly and with a building swell,going in the sea as the tide comes in especially around 8-00ish if the weathers is fine people stay, if the Beachguards were given the go ahead they know when these times and conditions prevail,should be able to stay on and be paid extra,you might not need them all, but the poor man who drowned recently at St.Brelades was just after the guards had finished for the day,there are only a few days like this in a season,but if it’s your unlucky day…tragedy.for a few measly hours pay families lives could be preserved……..we owe it to ourselves and tourism..
Report abuse
I bow to the bravery of a true soldier, and that of all the British troops serving in troubled lands. All “Born Warriors” but men of peace at heart.
Report abuse
We cannot do enough for our serving armed forces personnel and this particular soldier shows clearly why that has to be the case. People that run TOWARDS the sound of gunfire, not away from, those that see the danger and put themselves in harms way for others are what makes our armed forces the envy of the world.
Being Welsh, I bet he can sing too!
Report abuse