It's thought that following instructions provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute probably saved the life of a swimmer rescued from the water off the Sussex coast at Goring on Saturday (July 3).
As More Radio reported at the weekend, multiple volunteer lifeboat crews from Littlehampton, together with coastguards and police helped by other volunteers, scoured water and land near Goring after a man went missing.
Patrick Graysmark, 68, hadn't been seen since 8.23pm, since going for a swim around 5.30pm.
As light faded, and a Force 4 south-westerly breeze created waves of up to 1m, a search began — leading to a sighting of the casualty in the water at 10.31pm west of Goring.
Lifeboat crews reported that Mr. Graysmark was found floating on his back, and able to call to volunteers on the boats.
They said he had done precisely as they instruct swimmers to do, if they find themselves in difficulty.
Nick White, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Littlehampton, said:
"The RNLI promotes #FloatToLive as a way to survive in the water if you are in difficulty.
"The gentleman we rescued had done exactly that and called for help when our lifeboats came near.
"Together with our colleagues in partner agencies Littlehampton, Shoreham and Selsey Coastguard Rescue teams, Sussex Police, HM Coastguard, and the NHS a successful multi-agency search was implemented.
"Events such as this are why the RNLI charity exists and why our volunteers give up so much of their free time and energy to save lives at sea.
"The whole station was elated, it was a great result."
Crew members said they entered the water to stabilise the casualty, before his recovery by a Search and Rescue helicopter ahead of transfer to St. Richard's Hospital in Chichester.
Early on Sunday morning, Mr. Graysmark's relatives reported he was doing well in his recovery.
Relative Sharon Brakes wrote to well-wishers on social media:
"Thank you so much to everyone involved in rescuing my Uncle Pat.
"He is doing well, sitting up and chatting away to the nurses — our family will be forever grateful to you all, thanks for everything you do."
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