RISING TIDE
THE ONGOING SUCCESS OF WEXFORD MARINEWATCH
IN the seven years since MarineWatch was first founded in Wexford, like most of us, they’ve never quite experienced anything like this. The outbreak of coronavirus and the subsequent restrictions imposed by a government frantically trying to contain its spread have had a hampering effect on many charities and organisations.
However, one could argue that in uncertain times like these, there’s never been a more pressing need for the services of MarineWatch.
As most people will be aware, MarineWatch was founded in December of 2012 with a simple goal - to reduce the frightening levels of deaths by suicide in Wexford Harbour. At the time it was an unprecedented venture and it’s been an overwhelming success, spawning other similar groups across the country.
As a result of the global pandemic and the new reality it’s brought with it for now, anxiety levels are high among the general public. Rolling 24 hour news coverage provides a bleak backdrop and thousands of people across the county have been let go from their jobs as a result of businesses opting to close their doors.
Following on from this, people are feeling the pressure. It’s important to stress to people that while we are being advised to ‘socially distance’ ourselves from people, we can still talk things through and the likes of the Samaritans and Pieta House are still providing a top quality service. However, for MarineWatch crews, who’ve dealt with some 389 incidents since their first patrols, they now must tread the line between keeping themselves safe and following guidelines, and maintaining a watchful presence in Wexford Harbour.
While they are still patrolling, it’s in a more limited capacity as they struggle to adapt to the situation.
‘We’re trying to find the balance at the minute,’ said founder and CEO Frank Flanagan. ‘Your mental health can really suffer at these times. On one hand, people expect us to be out there patrolling, but on another they don’t because it’s hard to comply with social distancing etc. We want to be there for the public and I think it’s about finding the balance. We’re going to be discussing some measures further in the coming days, but we could look more towards using our two vehicles with a single volunteer in each, patrolling and using walkie-talkies.’
For Frank and his team, there can be no return to a pre-MarineWatch time, where the faces of young people who had died by suicide in the harbour were a regular sight on the pages of the local paper. Prior to the foundation of MarineWatch, there was an average of 16 people per year entering the cold water of Wexford Harbour from the bridge. Their success is evident in the fact that not one life has been lost from the bridge since. Coronavirus or no coronavirus, the MarineWatch crew have no intention of allowing a return to the dark days. In just over seven years the organisation has grown exponentially and, finally, it now has a place to call home. Frank proudly announced that MarineWatch has acquired a unit in Westpoint Business Park in Clonard, which will now serve as the headquarters for all their operations going forward.
‘We’re delighted to finally get this over the line,’ he said. ‘For the first two years of MarineWatch, we had fifteen volunteers and operated out of the boot of a jeep that the council had given us. Two or three years in, we got a shipping container in Ferrybank for storage and that kind of thing and grew to just over 50 volunteers. Now we have well over 100 volunteers and finally we have a proper home to call our own.’
While the deal for the building was done towards the back end of last year, the property is being provided to the organisation at a reduced rent, the crew have been busy customising and setting everything up and are now delighted to be able to show it off. While a huge official opening ceremony was to take place, this has now been put on the back burner until the coronavirus situation dies down, but Frank can’t wait to show the people of Wexford what their fundraising has paid for. Tucked away at the back of the business park, the building has two vehicle bays to cater for MarineWatch’s two patrol vehicles. Whereas previously everything would have been bundled into a container, now all the volunteer’s kit is hanging neatly in a changing room and ready for use. There’s considerable storage for ringbuoys, signage and other vital equipment. Upstairs, there’s a large space that’s ideal for all manner of training and board meetings, while at the entrance, there’s comfy sofas and chairs where volunteers can sit and share a cup of coffee after what may have been a tough night on patrol.
Whereas the organisation previously had to source function rooms at hotels and halls for training, they can now do everything in house. And there’s quite a bit of training too. Each volunteer will complete three modules with the RNLI, a suicide prevention course which teaches them how to approach people in distress, a radio course and throwbag and ringbuoy training.
A large table dominates the mezzanine and its from here that the board will decide on future strategies of the organisation - such as how to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.
For Frank, it’s humbling to see his vision get to this stage. From those tentative beginnings, in less than 8 years MarineWatch volunteers have dealt with 389 incidents. These range from assisting someone vulnerable, to helping young people who are worse for wear after a night at one of Wexford’s night-life haunts, or administering first aid.
In the same period they’ve had 186 ‘interventions’ where volunteers have dealt with someone who had indicated that they’re suicidal and have come to the harbour to end their life. On six occasions, they’ve recovered someone from the water assisted by the RNLI. In fact, since December 2012, there have been only four deaths by suicide in the gener
al area, all occurring further up river. As a direct reaction to this, MarineWatch took the decision to expand patrols to also cover the Ferrycarrig area. The organisation currently has 120 volunteers and another 30 have just been recruited with training hopefully to start next month, depending on how things stand with Covid-19.
While the overall figures provided by MarineWatch make for encouraging reading, for anyone who doubts the pressing need for this service their stats for last year make a strong case.
In 2019, volunteers responded to 41 incidents, and had 26 interventions where the person indicated that they were there to purposely harm themselves. They had 7 calls for assistance from the Irish Coast Guard, 3 calls from the National Ambulance Service, 2 lifeboat launch requests to Wexford RNLI, 29 calls for assistance to the gardaí, 5 requests by family members to attend a scene and over the course of the year, volunteers handed out 23 counselling vouchers to people who were in distress.
‘ The figures are down on the previous year,’ Frank pointed out. ‘What we’re finding though is that a lot more people will approach our volunteers and, while they may not have any intention of harming themselves, they will say “look, I’m not in a good place at the moment”. Our lads will talk to them and can issue them with a voucher to obtain counselling. I suppose it makes a welcome change from people coming down to the quay feeling suicidal. It’s positive that people seem a little more willing to talk and open up and that some of the stigma has been shed.’
Frank points out that once a volunteer encounters someone in a distressed state, they have a ‘duty of care’ to them and will never let that person leave the area alone.
‘Our job is to ensure their safety,’ he said. ‘Whether that means contacting a family member voluntarily or one of the emergency services to back us up and further ensure the welfare of that individual, that’s what we’ll do.’
Wexford MarineWatch in many ways is the embodiment of what community spirit can achieve. The volunteers and everyone associated with the charity do tremendous work, but the cause is one which has been taken into the hearts of the people of Wexford in a way that’s rarely been seen before. People continue to work hard on fundraisers and other initiatives to ensure that the crews are well resourced as they patrol the harbour. Similarly local businesses have really rowed in behind them to help cover operating costs and this year Scallans Food Factory have come on board as official charity partner to provide the organisation with essential supplies. The average cost to fully kit-out and train a volunteer is in the region of €1,200, Frank points out, which means that the continued support of the people of Wexford is vital for their continued success.
Anyone in difficulty can always contact the Samaritans or Pieta House 24hrs a day, on 116123 or 1800 247247.