A father whose daughter feared she was ‘going to die’ after being swept away on a paddleboard is running the TCS London Marathon to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers who saved her.
Frankie Ingall, 30, was rescued by Penarth RNLI after strong winds blew her two miles from shore and towards the Bristol Channel in 2022. The lifeboats reached her 40 minutes after the ordeal started, at which point Frankie couldn’t see land and feared the worst. On Sunday, 27 April, her dad Matthew, 63, will be one of 85 people running the London Marathon for the lifesaving charity, hoping to help the RNLI ‘rescue more sons and daughters in the future’.
He said: ‘I wanted to do something to recognise the amazing work of the RNLI generally but also what they did to rescue Frankie. When it gets tough to complete the long distance of the run, I just think about those crew members out at sea to rescue Frankie, and also what Frankie must have been going through in that moment.’
Franke said: ‘By the time the lifeboats got to me, I couldn’t see land. I honestly thought I was going to die. There was no judgement or blame and the crews told me not to be put off by what happened. I now don’t need any reminder to take my phone in a waterproof pouch and keep it to hand.’
Also running the marathon this year is Alex Hogg, 27, whose best friend died in a speedboating accident which also left him with a broken leg and foot. Olympic hockey hopeful Charlie Hutton died aged 14 from the injuries sustained in the boating incident off the Isle of Wight in July 2012. Alex was also thrown overboard, the propellor cutting through several tendons and breaking his foot and ankle.
Alex said: ‘Charlie was a fantastic, funny and kind boy. He was also extremely talented on the piano and hockey pitch. I was lucky to call him a friend. RNLI lifeboat crews from Yarmouth took me to hospital where I had surgery to fix the damage to my leg. The doctors had initially said I may never be able to run again, so I consider myself incredibly indebted to the RNLI to be able to run a marathon 13 years on in Charlie’s memory. The money we help raise could provide the kit and training that keeps their brave crew safe when they go to the rescue of someone in danger at sea. I am grateful that this wonderful charity has given me the opportunity to fundraise for them in the memory of Charlie.’
David Evans, 38, from Tenby, Wales, is tackling the 26.2 miles for the RNLI, one of two marathons he’s taking on after lifeboat volunteers saved his daughter’s life last year. The Evans family were spending a day on Pendine Beach when Lily, 14, was blown out to sea by an offshore wind while paddleboarding. Tenby lifeboat crew launched and found her a mile out.
David, who recently completed the Newport Marathon, said: ‘Sometimes having to go for a run in the winter months is very difficult but as soon as I reminded myself why I am doing it, it was easy to put the trainers on and get out there. If the money raised by doing this helps save only one family’s child like the RNLI did for my daughter, then every single step will be worth it.’
Rob Collier, 34, will be running the marathon in memory of his dad Alistair, a kayaker who died during a race off the Dorset coast in 2018. A huge search operation, involving crews from Poole, Swanage, Mudeford, Bembridge, Yarmouth and Weymouth was launched to find Alistair. Sadly, his body was found the following day, 22 miles from the shore, alongside his kayak.
His son, Rob, said: ‘We miss dad a lot and the thing that makes me emotional is how many crews went out. When their pagers go off, they can be doing anything and then suddenly they’re out at sea doing whatever job needs doing. The RNLI offers a public service run by volunteers, providing a lot of public good. It’s a really obvious choice for us to support when it comes to fundraising, because it’s just doing amazing things.’
