Firefighters win Jersey Make a Difference Awards

Judges decided Chris Sweeny, Jonny Burch and Nick Willis should be given the award

Three firefighters who helped save a man from drowning in stormy conditions in St Ouen’s Bay have won the BBC Radio Jersey Make a Difference Awards.

Jonny Burch, Chris Sweeny and Nick Willis were part of the team who responded to the call in August 2023.

Stormy conditions meant a lifeboat could not be deployed to the area so firefighters had to enter the sea themselves to pull the man out while waves came crashing in.

The three said it was “great” to be recognised by the awards and it was a “nice shock”.

• Sea rescue shows 'range of challenges' firefighters face

Mr Burch spent a lot of time in the water with the swimmer and was hurt as he used his body to shield the casualty from a concrete sea wall.

He said "conditions were not the best" and it was a "pretty hairy night".

"It was a full crew of us on the night and it is a huge team effort from not just the guys who went into the water," he added.

The swimmer was about 25m (82ft) from the shore and the crew had to swim out to save him.

This is the third year the awards have been given out in Jersey

Mr Willis joined the rescue towards the end of the operation.

He said "it was uncomfortable viewing at times" during the rescue but winning the award was "a bit of a career high".

Firefighter Willis added: "A lot of people have seen the video of the rescue, but there’s all sorts of heroic rescues going on across the island with our emergency services all the time."

The firefighters added they hoped the presentation would raise awareness of the work all local emergency services did.