Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Stevenston man Tom Blackman rescues a swimmer from Horse Island

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 21st August 1964

STEVENSTON MAN IN RESCUE DRAMA

Mr. Tom Blackman, of 14 Landsborough Place, Stevenston, risked his life to rescue a young Glasgow man marooned on Horse Island last Sunday.

The young man had gone swimming from Ardrossan's North Shore and tried to reach the island.
He did so, but was so exhausted when he reached it that he could not swim back.
He was marooned for about two hours before Mr. Blackman, returning from a fishing trip on his cabin cruiser "Vicky" spotted him waving a rag to attract attention.
Risking the bottom of his boat beng torn out on the rocks, Mr. Blackman brought the "Vicky" as close to the island as he dared before signalling to the stranded man to swim out to him.

RAN OFF

Once the swimmer was aboard, Mr. Blackman brought him into Ardrossan Harbour and, after expressing thanks to his rescuer, the young man ran off, dressed only in swimming trunks, to retrieve his clothes from the shore.

Mr. Blackman, who is 48, is a process worker at Ardeer Factory, and bought the "Vicky" last year on his return from India, where he had helped to establish a new ICI factory. This year was his first afloat.

With him on the fishing trip were his 15-year-son Tommy, and some friends.
He has two other sons and three daughters.