Boy, 11, helps save fisherman’s life

A FISHERMAN had a lucky escape when he was thrown into the sea and drifted for five miles hanging on for dear life before being spotted struggling in the freezing water by an 11-year-old boy.

Eagle-eyed Louis Matisse saw the fisherman floundering in the water between Newlyn and Mousehole, Cornwall, and alerted his dad, who called the coastguard.

Coastguard launched a rescue operation and Nathan Rogers, 40, was rescued from the sea on Thursday afternoon.

RNLI rescue teams yesterday praised quick-thinking Louis for saving the fisherman who could have drowned.

Nathan was eventually rescued by a Penlee Lifeboat crew, which had also been called out to help by the Dream Catcher fishing boat.

Incredibly, the overboard fisherman was only kept from going underwater by the skipper of the Dream Catcher, who had dived into the water to rescue Nathan, from Porthleven.

Emergency services received multiple 999 calls just after 2.30pm to ask for help for Nathan.

He was eventually hauled from the water by RNLI crewman Dan Sell onboard the Ivan Ellen lifeboat.

Nathan was suffering with “severe hypothermia” when rescued from the water and taken to hospital for a check up. He is said to now be “home and well” and recovering, according to a relative on Facebook.

Following his rescue, Nathan’s fishing boat was towed to the safety of Newlyn Harbour by lifeboat crews.