Swimmer rushed ashore after falling ill during cross-Channel charity swim

A SWIMMER suffering from heat exhaustion had to be taken ashore in France after developing chest pains and shortness of breath during a cross-Channel sea swim.

The Jersey Lifeboat Association’s Albert Pinel inshore lifeboat was providing medical cover for Dementia Jersey’s sea swim challenge on Saturday when the crew was alerted to the unwell participant.

Around 60 swimmers, supported by 16 boats, had set off from Le Coupe Bay at 7.15am for the route around the south of the Écréhous and on to Carteret beach.

Four volunteer JLA crew members had left St Helier earlier that morning for what would become a 12-hour day providing safety cover for the event.

The Albert Pinel had been requested by organisers because of the medical equipment carried on board and the crew’s advanced lifesaving training.

During the race, the crew checked in with boats across the increasingly spread-out field to ensure swimmers and their support teams were well.

However, at about 12.15pm, they were told that one participant had become unwell.

The lifeboat went to the support vessel and its crew assessed the swimmer, who had been vomiting and was suffering from heat exhaustion.

It was initially decided to transfer him to a larger vessel, where he could be sheltered from the sun and made more comfortable while the race continued.

The JLA crew continued to check on him every 15 minutes while also keeping watch over the other swimmers and boats.

But after his condition failed to improve following three checks, the crew decided he needed to be taken ashore in Carteret, where further medical support was available.

At 12.55pm, the Albert Pinel came alongside the vessel Sante to collect the casualty before heading to Carteret while continuing to monitor his condition.

The lifeboat reached the fishermen’s slipway at about 1.15pm.

By then, the swimmer had begun suffering from chest pains and shortness of breath and was taken to a pre-arranged facility while the crew waited for the French Fire Service.

The JLA said the casualty’s wife and children were also at the harbour by the time he was handed over to French emergency responders.

The Albert Pinel then returned to the race, which was completed at 5pm with all swimmers safely ashore – more than an hour before the 6.15pm cut-off.

The JLA described it as “a pretty eventful day” and thanked the four volunteers “for their commitment and expertise during the event”, after their day on the water passed the 12-hour mark.