Merseyside man, 22, dies in North Wales sea tragedy

May 26 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

ONE young Merseyside man died and another had to be rescued by the Coastguard, after a holiday tragedy in Wales.

Craig Craven, 22, from Wirral, was swept off rocks out to sea at Anglesey on Saturday night. His friend, Phil McWilliam, 24, jumped in to try to save him, but got into difficulties himself and had to be hauled from the sea.

The friends both lived on the same street in Prenton, where friends and family were trying to come to terms with what had happened last night.

At the door of their smart semi-detached home on Woodchurch Road, Mr Craven’s father, Michael, said: “My head is all over the place, we’re still in shock. We don’t really know how it happened.”

Mr Craven was plucked from the water by an RAF Sea King helicopter and airlifted to hospital. Doctors tried desperately to save him but their efforts were in vain.

Mr Craven’s identity was confirmed by friends last night.

Mr McWilliam was pulled from the sea onto a rock by a member of the Cemaes coastguard team.

Friends said Mr McWilliam had gone to look for a fishing spot when a large wave washed his friend, Craig, out to sea near Wylfa nuclear power station.

One said: “They were staying in the area for the weekend and planned to go fishing on Sunday. They went looking for a suitable spot between Cemaes and Wylfa Head when the wave dragged Craig out to sea.

“Phil tried to attract attention and then jumped into the water to try and rescue his mate. Sadly, he couldn’t get to him, and he him-self got into difficulties. He thinks he may have been in the water for up to 45 minutes.”

Mr McWilliam was left fighting for his life, but his condition last night was described as “on the mend”.

Holyhead Coastguard watch manager Ray Carson said that after the 999 call was received the Moelfre lifeboat was launched, the Cemaes Coastguard team alerted and the RAF rescue helicopter scrambled, at about 9.45pm.

Lifeboat coxswain Anthony Barclay said strong winds and rough seas made manoeuvring the boat into the bay difficult.

“There were also submerged rocks which we had to avoid,” he said. “We lit up the area with all our spotlights to find the rocks before we were able to launch the X-boat, the small inflatable boat the lifeboat carries..”

The two crew on board, Nigel Musgrave and Edward Griffiths, successfully got to the rock – where the casualty had been taken by the Coastguard officer – and they were brought back onto the lifeboat.

Mr Barclay added: “He was very cold and distressed when he got onto the lifeboat.

“We took them to Amlwch where they were checked by our medical adviser, Dr Harry Pritchard, before being taken to hospital.

“Without a doubt, this man was saved by the prompt action of the coastguard and the lifeboat crew.”

The alarm was raised by a member of the public who saw one man in difficulties off Cemaes at about 9.45pm. Mr Carson said: “The first casualty, a man, aged 22, was rescued by helicopter and taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd at 10.09pm. Unfortunately he died later. The second man, aged 24, was rescued by one of the Cemaes Coastguard rescue officers, who swam to his aid and managed to get him to the lifeboat.

“The lifeboat then took the casualty to Amlwch and he was transferred by ambulance to Ysbyty Gwynedd.”

The men were reported to have been staying at the Ystrad Parc Lodge campsite, at Cemaes, but a site spokesman said he was unable to confirm the reports.

A North Wales police spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious, but an investigation for the coroner has been launched, and they are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to contact officers.

ANYONE with information about the incident should contact police on 0845 607 1002.

erylcrump