Coroner praises holidaymakers who helped in Anglesey rescue

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-25027736

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The bravery of two holidaymakers who went into a rough sea risking their own lives to try to rescue a father and his sons has been praised by a coroner.

Dewi Pritchard-Jones said the pair probably saved Michael Lawrence, while others aided his brother Christopher, from Urmston, Manchester.

But their father John Lawrence, 69, died from heart failure, the Llangefni inquest heard.

The coroner ruled his death was due to natural causes.

The three men got into trouble while swimming in the sea at Rhosneigr on Anglesey last August.

The coroner praised the actions of police officer Graham John Roberts and Paul Sinnott, an electrician, both from St Helens, Merseyside, who went to help the three family members, saving Michael Lawrence, who is in his twenties.

Rescuers had to battle Force Seven winds to reach the men in difficulty.

The rescue operation involved the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Trearddur Bay and a helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey.

However, the inquest heard that John Lawrence who had been face down in the waves had died not from drowning, but because of heart failure.

Pathologist Dr Mark Lord explained that a coronary artery was 90% blocked and because of this Mr Lawrence's heart had not been able to contend with the exertion and stress in the swell.