MY 14 yr old twin son, was the victim of the Blackpool sea tragedy 28/7/10, I will never understand how or why it happened right infront of our eyes, he was just 3 metres from shore. Michael was the strongest swimmer of the children, he knew all the dangers and alerted others of undercurrents. he was above average boy with huge potential in life, so full of energy and would've fought til the last for his life. his inquest is still under investagtion due to my concerns and doubts, none of which will bring Michael back, but may just save someone elses life.
Whilst on holiday in Blackpool, very sadly on wednesday 28th july 2010, my gorgeous twin son fell victim of the sea, at the tender age of 14years, a very strong,sensible, above average, popular boy
and good swimmer.
It was a normal bright/cloudy day, windy at times with sun breaking through, when we got to the beach next to central pier at 3.10.pm. Michael my twin son entered the sea with his friend Jake also 14, playing in a large inflatable ring and started off directly infront of us, no further than
couple metres from shore, The sea was calm enough although the tide was going out, and there were some frisky waves at times, the two boys moved to their right and we moved them back over infront of us because we didnt want them goin too near the pier.
My youngest son David age 11, then went in ankle high, opposite the two boys floating in their ring, paddling away, at times the wind was getting stronger and the two boys were drifting to their left towards north, then a while later Michaels twin joined them Daniel, we told him to tell the boys to come back over to their right as there were waves near them and it was calmer infront of us,
our eyes never left them for one second, the winds blowing and, within seconds of Daniel joining them at calf high, Michael and Jakes ring started going sideways further to their left side North, but they were still No further Than 3 Mteres from shore, No one seeing danger all laughing and
joking, they hit a sand dip now the two boys in the ring couldn?t feel the surface, they had not gone further out than 3 metres but because they hit this dip in the sand it made it look like they were with the waves, Daniel only a few feet away still calf high tried but couldn?t reach them, The boys called for help to a guy sitting infront of them on the sand, that done absolutly nothing, as he saw them laughing, probably thought nothing wrong.
My husband had already spotted something not right and ran towards them & called 999, as No beach controllers were on duty and No life ring could be found.
Michael pushed the ring over his head as he now wanted to come out of the water, although Michael tried to swim in, the current took him nowhere, although closer now than jake, Michael stil couldnt
reach the surface, from being over the dip in sand, so Daniel grabbed Michaels hands but a wave seperated them dragging Michael to the right opposite David, who didnt realise anythin wrong as he was still ankle high himself a few feet from Michael,
Daniel managed to grab Jake who was stil in the ring, and pull him out of water, but was still unable to reach his twin, they threw the ring to Michael but the wind threw it back, At 15.38 a wave went over Michaels head and he never surfaced again, There were several other children in the sea at
the time, and members of the public spotted the boys apparently also rang 999, and took their children out.
We were beside ourselves paddling in screaming for him, not understanding why Michael Hadn?t come to the surface, We were asking public to help but not one person would, even the guy doing donkey rides I screamed at didnt know what to do, but i think he rang someone...
Despite coastguards and helicopters with thermal imaging, they didnt find Michael,
It was actually members of public that found Michael at 6.30.pm on the sand next to central pier
Did Michael manage to swim to the pier and was waiting there for help, ??????
Mikey wouldnt have giv up No way he was far too clever not to have tried.....
When paramedics found him he still had a slow pulse but enough to work with, so they took him to hospitol, and carried out heart bypass, to treat his hypothermic body, but all the efforts were just too little too late, and Michael was pronounced at 7.50.pm..........The Worst Day Of My Life,
Losing You Was The Hardest Thing I Ever Had To Do, Loving You Was The Easiest,
R.I.P GORGEOUS, MY TWIN SON MICHAEL ANTHONY SHEEHAN