Training saves life of tourist in trouble

“Without their help … I wouldn’t be here.”

CAPTION: Elinor Thomas and Thomas Watkins, centre, thank HMAS Canberra personnel for saving Mr Watkins’ life, and receive a tour of the ship while alongside Fleet Base East in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

A sobering statement from tourist Thomas Watkins, recounting the morning in March, that was almost his last.

Mr Watkins and partner Elinor Thomas had ventured out on Sydney Harbour for a sunrise kayaking tour to mark the end of their three-week Australian adventure.

Unbeknown to Elinor, the Welshman’s plan was to paddle out, and with the sunlight breaking over the Sydney Opera House, ask for her hand in marriage.

However, Mr Watkins’ plan for a dream proposal quickly turned into a nightmare.

Before he could pop the question, Miss Thomas turned to see Mr Watkins suffering from an unexpected medical episode, which capsized his kayak, trapping him underwater.

“I jumped in, screaming for help, realising he was having a seizure,” Miss Thomas said.

“I felt like I was in a movie; you just cannot comprehend what is happening. The adrenaline kicks in and you don’t have any time to think.”

Despite having no history of seizures, the random attack knocked Mr Watkins out cold. Only later did he become aware how close he came to death, if not for the help of a group of guardian angels dressed in Navy uniforms.

“That’s really hard to comprehend, but without their training and help, I wouldn’t be here today,” Mr Watkins said.

Fortunately, at the same time the dramatic episode was taking place, sailors from HMAS Canberra were heading past in two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) on their way to a training exercise.

Able Seaman Taylor Ellis said it was a training exercise that put them in the “right place, at the right time”.

“We saw some kayakers waving at us; we thought at first they were saying hello, until we noticed the distress call,” Able Seaman Ellis said.

Able Seaman Adam Beaton first spotted the signal for help and said it was almost automatic that their training kicked in and took over.

“We carry out this training and think nothing of it, then you get thrown into a situation like this and it just becomes second nature,” Able Seaman Beaton said.

“You just instinctively know what to do.”

By this stage, Miss Thomas and the tour operator had managed to right the kayak and pull Mr Watkins out; however, as Leading Seaman Charlotte Collins assisted pulling the injured tourist into the RHIB, she feared the worst.

“As we got to him, his face was blue and pale, I thought he wasn’t alive and I just knew we had to save this guy,” she said.

The sailors provided first aid to the injured kayaker, stabilising him and spiriting him to an ambulance ashore. Precious moments, Miss Thomas maintains, were lifesaving.

“We were fortunate the Navy came past at exactly the right time,” Miss Thomas said.

“Seeing them was such a relief. It gave me hope.”

Canberra officer of the watch Lieutenant Darcy Taylor was extremely proud the crew could render assistance on the day.

“It speaks a lot to the high value of our training, and to have this impressive outcome speaks to the abilities of our hard working and dedicated sailors,” Lieutenant Taylor said.

“It is a credit to the Navy as a whole.”

Once back on his feet, Mr Watkins and Miss Thomas were welcomed aboard Canberra to meet the sailors who saved his life.

Here’s hoping his next proposal plan will be just as special, but a little less eventful.

CAPTION: From left, Able Seaman Taylor Ellis, Lieutenant D’arcy Taylor, Thomas Watkins, Elinor Thomas, Leading Seaman Charlotte Collins and Able Seaman Adam Beaton on board HMAS Canberra.

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