The lives of a speedboat driver and wakeboarder have been saved thanks to a Pains Wessex marine distress signal and an eagle-eyed RNLI volunteer.
Now, the RNLI has created a video documentary of the rescue of Gary Guy and his nephew and is using it in sea safety talks.
Pains Wessex Sales Manager Chris Feibusch, pictured left, has presented Gary Guy, right, with a new pack of flares and the rescued powerboater says every boat should carry marine distress signals.
Gary Guy got into trouble after the engine cut out while he was taking his nephew wakeboarding in August 2010, off Aberdovey Beach, at Ynyslas, Cardigan Bay, in Wales.
As angry white water buffeted the boat, Gary tried to dial 999 on his mobile phone, but it refused to work. Just before the pair was knocked from the boat by a huge wave, Gary grabbed his emergency bag.
He desperately tried to fire a different brand of flare, but it failed. Thankfully, there were also two Pains Wessex Orange Handsmokes in the bag, which operated perfectly.
"The next thing I remember was being washed out into the Irish Sea. Riding up and down on the big waves, it wasn’t easy opening my emergency bag. I selected the first flare to hand, which was not a Pains Wessex product. I pulled the cord – nothing. I tossed it aside, delved into the bag and selected a Pains Wessex flare. I twisted the blue handle, struck it and – whoosh! – thick orange smoke."
Mr Guy, who also fired a second Pains Wessex Orange Handsmoke, adds, "We needed to preserve both our energy and spirit, so we hung to our float. We talked and we hoped."