Sailor Rick helps save fisherman's life

A Royal Navy sailor from South Staffordshire has helped to save the life of a sick fisherman stranded in the middle of the English Channel.

Petty Officer Rick Bonnell was on duty onboard HMS Mersey when the ship intercepted a distress call from a man who had been taken ill on his own vessel.

The 33-year-old medic, from Perton, stormed on a speedboat across to the sick man's boat and stabilised his condition before he was airlifted to hospital. "I was pleased to be able to help and glad that my training could be used to good effect," said PO Bonnell, who went to Codsall High School.

"We practice for different emergencies frequently in the Navy which makes us able to cope with real emergencies and enable us to help when needed." The drama involving the warship unfolded on June 8. At the time, HMS Mersey was on fishery protection duty in the English Channel when the ship heard a distress call to the Dover coastguard. The ship instantly offered assistance to the fishing vessel, which was 12 miles away.

As the senior medical branch sailor onboard, father-of-two PO Bonnell and one of his First Aid team, chef Felicity Liggins, were dispatched on a speedboat to help. The pair were were able to stabilise the unwell man, who was in his 50s, before a coastguard rescue helicopter winched the casualty to Eastbourne Hospital.

PO Bonnell joined the Royal Navy as a stores accountant in 1996 and is the coxswain of HMS Mersey. The coxswain has many roles, including medical, gunnery, manpower coordinator, stores, pay, personnel issues and assistant marine enforcement officer. Just like all other sailors in the Royal Navy, Rick is also a trained fire fighter and armed response team member.

When not on duty, PO Bonnell, who now lives in Gosport, near Portsmouth, relaxes by spending time with his wife Leigh and two children, Ellie, six and Logan, two. The avid Wolves fan also enjoys playing football, golf and keeping fit. "Joining the Royal Navy has given me the chance to see and do things that I would never have normally done," he said.