Amazing escape as storm sweeps van into Arbroath Harbour
Two men have had a remarkable escape from serious injury — or even worse — when their works van was smashed by a huge wave as Arbroath felt the full force of the storm on Tuesday.
Storm water surges at Arbroath Harbour, in a picture sent in by reader Bruce Coull.
- By Ralph Barnett
- Published in the Courier : 08.09.10
- Published online : 08.09.10 @ 07.14am
The van, operated by local firm R. S. Joinery, was on the road alongside the breakwater of the town's outer harbour when it was struck by a mass of water crashing over the sea wall.
The force of the water shattered the windscreen, caused significant damage to the bodywork and roof, and also spun the van through 90 degrees.
The two occupants — Jonathan Moorland (19) and his un-named workmate — escaped through the smashed window.
However, as the waves continued to crash over the sea wall around them, they were forced to seek refuge and what little shelter they could on a pier used by crab and lobster fishermen to store creels.
The men's plight was witnessed by Arbroath RNLI full-time mechanic Allan Russell. Realising the gravity of the situation, he notified the coastguard.
Although conditions were such that launching the inshore lifeboat would have been a last resort, the station's pager alert system was used to summon as many of the volunteer crew as were able to attend.
The skipper of the local creel boat Pathfinder offered to assist.
He picked up the two men and transferred them to the oil pier.
Bleeding
Knowing that Mr Moorland had been cut by broken glass and was bleeding, the lifeboat personnel were waiting to administer first aid.
Mr Russell and lifeboat coxswain Tommy Yule dressed the young man's wounds, and other crew members ensured he was kept as warm and dry as possible while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.
Mr Moorland's condition was assessed by paramedics in the ambulance and he was taken to Arbroath Infirmary.
There his injuries were cleaned and bandaged and he was treated for shock and mild hypothermia before being allowed home.
After the two men had been taken to safety the fate of their van became the focus of public attention, with a significant number of people defying the horrendous weather to watch it being battered by successive waves.
Massive breaker
One particularly massive breaker lifted the vehicle completely and left it straddling the tie rail with its rear wheels over the edge.
It remained there for some time, surviving several other huge waves and looking as if being wedged on the rail might save it.
However the van succumbed to the inevitable when an enormous wall of water lifted the front end, and it was dumped into the harbour.
The van floated in the choppy water for less than a minute before disappearing below the surface.
Company boss Bob Stewart said, "Both guys are okay after what happened, and that's the main thing as far as I'm concerned. Jonathan's injuries are not as bad as first appeared.
"Apart from his cuts it was mostly shock — which is understandable when you think what they went through.
"At the end of the day the van and its contents are material things that can be replaced if necessary," he added.
Meanwhile, the R. S. Joinery van was back on dry land on Tuesday night after being recovered from the harbour by a crane.
08.39pm - 08.09.2010 mrs green - arbroath, angus Report This
what on earth were they thinking anyone with a ounce of sence would never have been on there in that weather in the first place they should think themselves very lucky and in future should read the signs warning of the dangers
02.02pm - 09.09.2010 Arthur sime - Edinburgh, scotland Report This
well done to all involved in the aid of the two lads and as their boss said as long as they are ok the other stuff can be replaced. <br />
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