At the 123rd ISPE One-Day Seminar in Clevedon, ISPE President Colin Day invited Allen Wilson, FISPE to announce a special award the Institute Council had decided to give to ISPE Member, Yanek Kowal. The Council had heard about an heroic event Yanek was involved with during the summer.
It was a calm day at Howtown Bay on Lake Ullswater in the Lake District and Yanek was at the pier enjoying a spot of fishing with his wife. He noticed two swimmers in trouble, and, with no thought for his own safety, and relying on his many years of lifeguarding experience, Yanek swam out to where they were struggling. Unfortunately one of the two brothers in difficulty had sunk and drowned before Yanek could reach them. The remaining brother then grabbed Yanek, endangering both of their lives by pulling them under.
Yanek fortunately was able to put years of training into action and affected a rescue of the remaining brother and towed him to safety along with a female who had swum out to assist but had been grabbed by the casualty and pulled under herself. The Ambulance, Police and Fire rescue services were on the scene very quickly and the casualty was allowed to return from hospital to the family group later that evening with no signs or symptoms detected
. Yanek later directed the Police Specialist Diving Unit from Manchester to the point where the young man had submerged and his body was retrieved from the lake. For his outstanding bravery Yanek was presented with a commemorative clock and a certificate of thanks.
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Earn as you learn
The ISPE Continuous Professional Development Scheme is free to join and both ISPE members and non-members may enrol. All those who enrol (a simple registration form) receive a free ISPE CPD ring binder in which to keep attendance/CPD certificates, etc., and a CPD Activity Log to record different courses attended and other CPD training activity. Various companies in the pool and spa trade present ‘Industry- Supported’ CPD training days and these are publicised on the ISPE website under ‘News’ and elsewhere within the trade press. Contract ross@ispe.co.uk for more details or pick up a free ISPE CPD folder at one of the ISPE seminars.
