Last updated at 15:03, Monday, 01 February 2010

To the watching public it was one of the most dramatic rescues witnessed in Cockermouth.

Mike Satterthwaite

The moment four men in a boat braved the torrent that had become the town’s Main Street to get from one side to the other was broadcast on 24-hour news.

Once in High Sand Lane, they got themselves to the window of Kirstie Hutchison, who had been trapped in her home for hours.

She dropped into the boat and was taken to safety.

The rescuers’ Heroes of the Floods nomination states: “They risked their own lives to save others.”

Two of the men in the boat – Gareth Hiddleston and Paul Murdoch – are Whitehaven Coastguard members.

The other two – David Eland and Mick Satterthwaite, who were there with Kevin Irwin, who played a key role in launching the craft – were volunteers from Silloth.

Although members of the town’s lifeboat crew, they were in Cockermouth that night by their own agreement.

It was near Main Street that the Silloth volunteers – who had first reported to the co-ordination point at Cockermouth Fire Station – tagged up with the Coastguard members.

Silloth RNLI lifeboat operations manager Eddie Studholme played a key role in the men going to Cockermouth with their craft, a former lifeboat capable of being used in emergencies.

“Obviously things were getting worse – they were pleading for help,” he added.

The crew had to use their specialist skills to cope with the strong currents which devastated Main Street.

And it was their efforts to reach Ms Hutchison – crossing what was effectively a river – that particularly impressed Mr Studholme. He said: “The helmsman on the boat that evening was David Eland. His skill needs recognised.

“It was one of those situations that takes skill. It was amazing. There are a lot of people who could not have done that.”

• Whitehaven Coastguard has also received a nomination in the volunteers’ category.

First published at 11:27, Monday, 01 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk