US Coast Guard Presents Award to South Wales Coastguard ‘Heroes’
By Community Correspondent
An American Coast Guard has returned to the scene of her accident in South Wales, a year after a significant ankle injury saw her rescued by Coastguards from Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team.
US Coast Guard Dr Cynthia Woodlock was visiting South Wales when she fell and sustained a serious ankle injury at Sully Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan last September.
The scientist and engineer, who works within the US Coast Guard’s Hazardous Materials Division in Washington DC, was visiting the UK for an annual International Maritime Organization meeting and had decided to use some of her free time to visit the coast.
Cindy was rescued by Coastguard Rescue Officers from Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team, who removed her from the beach amid rising tides.
“I want to thank the team for getting me off that beach. I’ll never forget the relief I felt at seeing the Coastguards' headlamps bobbing across the sand,” she said.
Cindy had sustained multiple ankle fractures and, breaking her tibia, fibula and heel bone.
Requiring urgent orthopaedic surgery, she was operated on the same day and was able to return to the US after a week-long stay in hospital. Flying back to Washington, she was then non-weight-bearing for eight weeks and in a boot for a further six months.
A year after her ordeal, Cindy made plans to return to the UK and presented the team that rescued her with an official letter of thanks signed by her Commanding Officer Captain Jennifer Doherty, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Design Standards.
In the framed letter, Captain Doherty wrote: “I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude for your Coastguard team at Penarth and other assisting first responders. They provided comfort and worked with the utmost care to safely transport her over difficult terrain to the awaiting ambulance.”
She added: “Your collective team of first responders were her heroes. I cannot properly express the gratitude that I have. Thank you.”
Cindy visited Station Officer (SO) Keith Smith and fellow rescuers at Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team with the letter of commendation and a special commemorative coin.
Deputy Station Officer (DSO) Gemma Sawyer said: “We were called to rescue Cindy to a place of safety last year after she’d sustained a serious ankle injury at Sully.
“It’s incredibly kind and thoughtful of Cindy and her senior officer to have written to us. We’re very touched and humbled."
The team were able to spend some time with Cindy, who told them about her work in the US Coast Guard, and the group explored similarities and differences between themselves and their counterparts.
Gemma added: “It was great to spend some time with a serving US Coast Guard and talk about how, despite the differences between us, we’re both focused on one mission – protecting lives.”
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