• 26/12/01 - Boxing Day Swim 2001
• 23/03/01 - Lifesaver saves life of lifesaver

Boxing Day Swim 2001

The sea was just about as rough as it could get. Waves were crashing over the Lower Prom and some were breaking over 200m from shore. It was so rough that even the horizon was wobbly! Perfect conditions, then, for our annual Boxing Day Swim...

With freezing temperatures outside, the mad fools who had agreed to take part took off their clothes and headed down the steps at 10:30am. Still, at least the sun was shining brightly (unlike last year when were in the middle of a snowstorm), but the thermometer reading for the water temperature was a very chilly 3°C (Oh for the luxury of last year's 7.5°C!).

Photographers from the local press were there and there was some attempt at getting us to pose. Unfortunately, the strength of the waves meant that it was very difficult to keep our feet on the ground - let alone stand still! Waves took people off their feet and draged them to the shore and then the strength of the backwash washed them right back out again. There were sand-grazed bodies a-plenty!

After the rest of us had got out, the photographer wanted a few more photos of Steve Poulton in his now traditional Jester's hat and sunglasses. Poor old Stephen had to sit in the water getting bashed around by the waves for a further five minutes while the photographer did his stuff - not that Steve minded! But it wasn't to no avail - the photo did end up in the Evening Chronicle and this time they did say it was Whitley Bay, unlike last year when they said it was a photo of Sunderland. Still, they made up for it by calling us the 'North Sea Volunteer Life Brigade' and misspelling our Chairman's name...again!

Back up to the Beach Base and it was a quick drying off and plenty of layers of clothes, along with a cup or tea (and whiskey!) to warm up before the certificates were handed out. Then it was up to the Avenue to warm up some more!

Special mention must go to our Portugese friend Pedro who had been roped into doing it over a few drinks with Club Chairman Joe Welsh - he'd never experienced cold like it!

Click here for a selection of photos from the swim.

Lifesaver saves life of lifesaver

NSVL's Steven Mather was presented with a certificate of commendation from the Royal Lifesaving Society on Friday 23rd March after he saved one of the country's most senior lifeguard trainers from choking.

The certificate was handed over by the Mayor of North Tyneside as NSVL played host to a training weekend for some of the top lifeguards and lifesavers in the country.


Steve Mather receiving his certificate from the Mayor of North Tyneside, with Barbara Broadbelt - the woman he saved.

NSVL members and other top lifeguards and lifesavers pose with the Mayor of North Tyneside outside the Avenue Pub.

Below is the report from Whitley Bay News Guardian

LIFEGUARD SAVES CHOKING WOMAN

Steven Mather demonstrates the abdominal thrust that saved Barbara Broadbelt.

A NORTH Shields man saved a woman from choking to death - at a dinner meeting for lifesavers.

Guests looked on in horror as lifesaving co-ordinator Barbara Broadbelt, aged 53, struggled to breath after a piece of pork became lodged in her throat.
But quick-thinking lifeguard Steven Mather ran from his seat and applied abdominal thrusts to dislodge the piece of food - saving her life.
Mrs Broadbelt, who is the first responder co-ordinator for lifesavers in the north east, was left with a sore throat and bruised ribs but was otherwise unharmed.
Mr Mather, aged 28, of Gardner Park, said: "I could see Barbara was struggling to breath and I jumped up from the table to help her. You don't have time to stop and think in that situation - your instincts just take over.
"At first I tried hitting her hard on the back about five times, but when that didn't work I applied abdominal thrusts, and luckily the food came out after the third one.
"It didn't really hit home that I had saved her life - probably because there were at least seven people at that table who could have done the same thing as me - I just happened to be sitting closest to her."
Mrs Broadbelt had arranged the dinner meeting at a Sedgefield pub to discuss new training methods and the distribution of defibrillators to volunteer life savers.
She had invited ten guests from various life saving organisations, including the North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards at Whitley Bay, which Mr Mather co-founded three years ago.
Mrs Broadbelt, who lives at Fishburn in County Durham, said: "I can't thank Steven enough for his quick thinking - if it wasn't for him I would not be here now.
"The experience was absolutely terrifying. I couldn't breathe and I stood up at the table in a panic, and that's when Steven rushed round to help me. He undoubtedly saved my life that night."
Some of the region's most experienced lifeguards and first aiders were at the meeting - and some even had life saving equipment in their cars, just outside the pub.
Mrs Broadbelt added: "It's so ironic that it happened there. I was just so lucky to be with people who knew what to do. Until something like that happens, you don't realise how important basic life saving skills are.
"But if it had to happen anywhere, I can't think of a better place than in a pub full of trained life savers!"
Mr Mather said: "This experience has really brought it home to me that accidents can happen anytime and in any situation. You really do have to be prepared for anything."