Rescue bid kills four

Press, 7 January 1983, Page 1

Rescue bid kills four

NZPA-Reuter Blackpool A playful dog led four persons, including three police officers, to their deaths in raging seas pounding Blackpool’s promenade yesterday. Two more policemen are recovering in hospital after a disaster which began with a man walking his dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Henry. Henry was caught by waves 6m high as he chased a bail to the water’s edge, his master got into difficulties trying to rescue him, and the police officers, one of them a

young woman, died when they rushed to his help. The officer drowned was Constable Colin Morrison, aged 38, who was married, with four children. Missing, presumed dead, are Constables Gordon Connolly, aged 24, married for only nine months, and Angela Bradley, aged 23. One of the survivors was badly hurt after being thrown against the promenade wall by the waves. A rope thrown out by other rescuers caught round his neck and almost strangled him as he was

dragged ashore. He was revived by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before being taken to hospital where he remained in an intensive care unit last night. The other survivor was said to be in satisfactory condition. The police said the body of one officer had been recovered but the search continued for the bodies of the policewoman, her other colleague, and the owner of the dog, which also died. Lancashire’s Deputy Chief Constable Brian Johnson paid tribute to the bravery of his officers in entering the stormy sea.

"We are all stunned and shattered. These young people showed exemplary bravery in being prepared to enter the sea in such appalling conditions,” he said. Conditions were so bad during the rescue attempts that inshore lifeboats were unable to help. “It was far too rough for them with 20ft waves coming over the sea wall,” Mr John- ' son said. "Conditions were just indescribable. It reflects well on these persons that they were prepared to go into that sea. It was horrifying.”