How a BBC journalist saved a woman who went to the sea

A BBC Scotland journalist received the police Scotland bravery award after saving a woman from the sea in orker.

Linda Cinclair, which is also recognized by the Royal Human Society, recalls how the dramatic days came out after swimming the beach with her sister.

I knew something was not right when the woman going from the middle of the road refused to go to one side despite the noise of my car engine.

From his performance, I also felt that a humble tot of horn did not have a proper response.

At that time I was running on the outskirts on the outskirts of Kirkwall.

I discovered a hurry in my three -month tenure working in BBC radio orchery.

It was just on a five -minute drive from my house and is really a beautiful place.

The debris of a world war two ships rests in its deep water, where the arctic turn pounces to the fish.

The vision of landing aircraft and landing from the nearby Kirkwal Airport connects the attraction of this picture postcard place.

I used to swim early in the morning when the water was still in the form of a set of sun or till late night, streaks through the sky to stunning amber and pinks.

Crossing chili water in a swimsuit became a daily ritual.

On the evening of 16 July 2023, there was nothing out of the ordinary at the beginning because I dropped down with my sister, Gayle.

It was summer and gray and was not especially warm for the summer night, opposite the blue sky and sunlight of the previous day.

When we saw the lonely woman, she was initially oblivious to us.

When we contact, she continues to walk in the middle of the narrow road and moves her car into the crawl before stepping on the beach.

Further, the ingnes was calm in addition to the odd dog walker and a child playing on the rocks, as a couple saw.

As we took a short walk from car to beach, I could not help but could not notice the woman again. She was kneeling, crying and on her mobile phone.

The situation did not look good and I kept an eye on it because we made our way in the sea.

My concerns were felt after a few moments, later he took us in water, dressed completely different from his shoes.

Gayle and I worked quickly and, without saying a word to each other, took one hand.

My sister led and spoke to the distressed woman – who appeared in the late 40s – to try and persuade her to shelter.

She was longer and stronger than us and took all our collective strength to guide her from behind with chili water.

But just after a few seconds we take him out of the water and he turned around and went back inside.

I knew that we could not deal with this situation alone and decided to raise the alarm.

Wet dripping, I ran to the road, flagged off a car and asked the driver to call 999.

I cursed myself because it was one of the time when I left home without my phone.

After less than 15 minutes, a police sergeant and a woman’s friend reached the spot.

Both of them called her name and urged her to return to the coastline, but her arguments were ignored.

By now, scattered people on the beach were gathering.

Another audience did not benefit the woman’s name again.

For me the turning point was a person who started talking to me and appeared oblivious to the vastness of the situation.

I returned to the middle-wise and moved towards the police officer.

I did not care if it was rude.

I was afraid that time was against us and I had to act.

So I asked Sergeant if he would stop going to me in the water.

For my surprise, he said that he would not do.

However, he asked if I was a strong swimmer and warned that if I got very close to that woman, she would shout my name.

I learned to swim as a child and in 2022 my sister introduced me to open water swimming.

I joined a group called Dell Dell Dell Dell Dell Dell at my home town pitslokri, Parthshire, and floated with the orkni polar bear during my time on the island.

But for all my experiences I had never tried to save anyone before.

I put the woman out and exit, which was parallel to the ship in deep water.

From the edge, about 100 meters away, I shouted Sergeant: “Linda, it’s quite close.”

As soon as I asked the woman her name and what she was doing, I removed the water.

He told me that he had nothing to live and said: “Everything is bad.”

I assured him that it was not the case and tried to create a bond rapidly because we fell up and down at a few meters away.

I asked her about her life and questions as with whom she lived with.

She told me that she takes care of her mother and father.

I told him that if he had left him alone, he would have been sad.

My main message was that he needed him. She was important. His life was important.

I pleaded with her to return to the shore and after a few frustrated minutes, she agreed.

Relief was getting heavy because we used to swim quietly-to-side, a few meters separately, back to the beach.

When we finally got out of the sea, he threw his arms around me and grabbed me tightly to show me gratitude.

He held me for a few moments, and it seemed that our shared experience in the sea made a bond.

Second later he was whispering the waiting ambulance by paramedics.

The crew asked me how I was. I felt right but suddenly it became aware of how cold I was.

I started trembling with either temperature, or adrenaline or both.

Sergeant shook my hand, a paramedic removed my strange newopreen boots and I went into my car to receive some reception heat.

A few days later, the officer told me that he nominated me for the award for bravery.

Last September I was recognized by the Royal Human Society.

And in February, I was given the police Scotland’s leading constable who was given to receive a separate award from Fareel.

People tell me that I am brave but I really don’t think I am. I worked on instinct.

This was only one thing for me. I could not stand on the shore and saw someone drowning.

This has been played in my mind because the disadvantage of a family member for suicide can be a catalyst for my actions.

I can’t believe it.

But my personal damage pain definitely enabled me to join the woman and convince her not to take life.

More than 18 months I honestly hope that she is doing well.

One thing is certain, the day on the beach will never leave me.

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