Man recalls rescue from stricken boat

Glen Rixon, who has diabetes, had to be rescued from a small fishing boat after falling ill with a hypoglycemic episode

A man with diabetes has recalled the moment he had a hypo and had to be rescued from a small fishing boat in danger of crashing on to the rocks.

Glen Rixon was on the boat with his friends Paddy and Shaun when they got into difficulties about two miles offshore from Plymouth.

The incident, involving the Plymouth RNLI crew, was featured in the latest episode of Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Glen, who was taken back to shore for treatment by the RNLI, said he did not realise just how serious the situation was at the time.

Glen Rixon and his friends Paddy and Shaun had to be rescued from their fishing boat after they ran into difficulties off the coast of Plymouth

He and his friends had gone out for a day's fishing when the engine of their newly-purchased boat failed and it started drifting about 100 metres from the rocky coastline at Penlee Point.

Glen, who had left his diabetic medication in the car, then suffered a hypo, which means blood sugar levels are low with a risk of falling into a diabetic coma.

Conditions at sea were also rough, due to the combination of the tide and high winds.

Glen told BBC Radio Devon: "Everything seemed to fall apart when we got outside the Plymouth breakwater."

He said he had left his medication in the car and everything was a blur once he had the hypo.

In the episode, Glen said the hypo he had that day "was the worst one I've ever had and I didn't realise, really, how serious it was".

Glen added he was hallucinating and, when he tried to call for help, he was actually talking into his hand.

The RNLI crew from Plymouth rescued the three friends when their newly-purchased boat ran into difficulties on its maiden voyage

The boat was towed away from the rocks by a passing vessel before the RNLI came to the rescue.

Glen was then assessed and given sugar paste by the RNLI crew, which briefly worked before he started going into a hypo again.

He was in danger of falling into a diabetic coma and was taken back to shore for treatment.

Meanwhile, RNLI crew member Sam remained on the fishing boat with skipper Shaun and Paddy as they were towed back to safety.

Paddy had never been out on a boat before and was suffering from seasickness, while Shaun has limited mobility due to a leg amputation about 10 years ago.

Glen said he and his friends had all watched the show separately, reflecting that the incident "could have changed our lives".

He said he hadn't been out on a boat since but the incident hadn't put him off from going back out to sea.

One of those on the boat which towed the vessel away from the rocks was a woman called Kerry, who along with her husband stepped into action to get Glen and his friends to safety.

She told BBC Radio Devon: "We had loads of safety gear on board so we knew we were in a position where we would be able to help and get out there quite quick.

"We got a line onto their boat and pulled them away from the rocks."