Awards given to firefighters who rescued swimmer

Three Jersey fire officers have been given awards for their bravery during a dramatic rescue at sea.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service said Jonny Burch and Chris Sweeney were given the Jersey Humane Society silver medal, and Nick Willis was awarded the society's bravery parchment for saving a swimmer in St Ouen's Bay in August 2023.

The men received their awards from Lieutenant Governor Jerry Kyd at a ceremony at Government House on Friday

All three said it was an honour to receive them.

The recognition refers to an incident on 20 August, when fire crews were called to the bay when a man swimming had got into difficulty.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown said due to the high tide, it took several attempts to get the man to safety and one of the rescuers needed hospital treatment afterwards.

"There is no doubt that the efforts of the crew saved the life of the man in the water," Mr Brown said.

Mr Burch said: "It was a very dynamic incident, and it is a privilege to work in an organisation such as ours, where teamwork is so important and the reliance on your team to have your back when needed."

Mr Sweeney added: "It was a real surprise when I found out that I had been nominated for an award – it wasn’t something that I would have expected.

"I know that the Silver Humane Society medals aren’t given out frequently, which makes it feel extra special."

Mr Willis said: "It was a real thrill for me to be recognised for my small contribution to this difficult high tide rescue which we performed last summer."

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