Quayside rescue
St Helier Harbour
quayside rescue
In April 1948 a brave marine cadet saved the life of a woman
who fell into St Helier harbour next to a docking ship
On 1 April 1948 the steamship Highland Queen was docking in St Helier Harbour when Mrs Phyllis Marie, nee Elliott, a mother of five children, tripped over a mooring rope and fell into the water between the quay and the vessel.
She was now in imminent danger of being crushed between the ship and the quayside.
Fully clothed, and regardless of the danger to his own life, marine cadet Carl Bott courageously jumped into the water in a gallant effort to save Mrs Marie, and managed to keep her away from danger.
Three other brave men then jumped into the water to bring her safely back to dry land.
Carl Bott was less lucky, because he was now caught between the bow of the ship and the quay and suffered a severe injury. The other three men managed to bring him back to safety and he had a prolonged spell in hospital.
After several weeks in hospital he returned to his home in Alderney with his mother to convalesce. After he had recovered he was presented with the Jersey Humane Society Bronze Medal on 12 October 1948 on board a vessel of the Jersey Channel Island Shipping Company in St Helier Harbour.
