A worldwide search for a man who rescued a drowning couple off the coast of Croatia has led all the way to Coledale’s Zen Joyce.
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The British couple, Craig and Jackie O’Neill, were sailing with two friends off Hvar on September 21 when they hit rough seas and their boat capsized. Mr O’Neill later issued a public appeal to find the man who came to their rescue. This week he had the chance to say ‘thankyou’ after social media well-wishers led him to the rescuer, 32-year-old Mr Joyce.
Mr Joyce and his girlfriend were taking a taxi boat from their cruise ship to port when he saw the overturned boat and directed the taxi’s skipper towards it.
Unable to swim, the O’Neills clung to the boat. Meantime, Mr Joyce, a lifelong surfer, dove into the turbulent water and swam to Mrs O’Neill. He was in the process of bringing her towards the taxi boat when he noticed the overturned boat had completely sunk.
Speaking to the Mercury from France, Mr Joyce said he was worried for Mr O’Neill when he made the decision to turn back.
“He started bobbing under the water, each time for a little longer, so I told Jackie we needed to go back for him, otherwise it would be too late.Once we reached Craig, I took him under my other arm and swam them both back to our boat.”
At the boat, other members of the cruise party threw a rope over the side and one got into the water to help pull the stricken pair aboard.
Mr Joyce then helped one of the couple’s friends, who had been thrown a life ring, to board another passing boat. The former Bulli High School student is in the midst of a two-year European travel adventure with girlfriend, Katherine Lumello.
In Mr O’Neill’s post, he credits Mr Joyce with saving his life. “I’m a rubbish swimmer, I was on my own and exhausted. I had no options left and really thought, ‘that’s it, I’m going to die here’.”
Mr Joyce plans to reunite with them in London later this year. “It was humbling that they reached out and I appreciate the extreme efforts they went to to find me,” he said. “I don't consider my actions to be heroic. I was brought up to treat people the way I'd like to be treated - and if I'm ever in need I'd hope someone would do the same. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I'd stood by and watched the situation unfold, knowing I was able to assist.”
Mr Joyce is the son of the late Ray Joyce, who was awarded the Queens Commendation for Bravery after he swam into the ocean off Coledale in 1966 to retrieve a boy who had a shark attached to his leg. An amenities block covered in murals was installed at the beach in Ray’s memory following his death, in 2008.