POLLA ROSE

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Polla Rosa crew helped to save drowning man in the Thames

The crew of the "Polla Rosa" helped save a drowning man from the Thames when she was leaving Comley’s Wharf in Fulham early in the morning of Nov 15, 2016. The three-man crew spotted the man in the water screaming for help. They sprang into action and used the tide and the hull of the ship to try to manoeuvre him towards shallower water. The rescue effort took place at around 3.10 a.m. near the Fulham Riverside development. Master Kevin Hughes, 36, was in charge of the vessel along with mate Connor Keeshan, 21, and deck hand Alan Mole, 18. They spotted the man and knew the nearest police boat was at Wapping and would not reach him in time. He was clearly distressed and in grave danger. They caught up with him between Imperial Wharf and where the Sainsbury’s is, and the mate managed to get a life ring to him. But he was disappearing under the water, so they got alongside him. Hughes saw police on the bank and pulled in close so they could board, before getting nearer to the stricken man. Mr Keeshan got a ladder to lower into the water and a female police officer decided to climb down to get him. The police constable, based at Hammersmith and Fulham, stayed with the man holding his head above the water for a number of minutes until a marine police unit arrived. Although she was instructed not to, she lowered herself down the ladder She grabbed hold of him by the scruff of the neck and held him until police boats turned up. He was struggling to stay afloat. It was very cold in the water, perhaps around 10 degrees. When the police boat turned up, they tried to get him out but the police officer fell into the river as well. So by now there were two casualties in the water. Luckily the lifeboat turned up and recovered the two people quickly. Local officers and officers from the Marine Policing Unit attended. The man was taken to a west London hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Report with photos: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cargo-ship-crew-save-drowning-man-from-river-thames-a3398866.htmls