“My first thought was that we were going to die”: former Ross Tiger skipper recalls harrowing moment he nearly lost life at sea

Dennis Avery, the Tiger’s longest serving skipper of 8 years, paid a visit to the Scottish Maritime Museum to fulfil the wish of a lifetime. The RNLB TGB came to Dennis’ rescue back in 1968 when the Ross Puma was shipwrecked off Little Rackwick Bay, on the Orkney Islands.

Dennis, aged 26 at the time and the Ship’s Mate, hadn’t seen the lifeboat since it saved his life, making the trip even more special. Sadly, the crew who saved his life were tragically lost in the Longhope lifeboat disaster just months after the rescue.

Tying the visit together, was MA student at the University of Strathclyde, Amber Thornborrow, who has helped bring together an exhibition about the TGB vessel.

Amber is also a relative of the legendary coxswain of the TGB Daniel Kirkpatrick – who unfortunately perished alongside his seven crew members when their lifeboat capsized in the Longhope Lifeboat disaster.

Amber had written about the rescue of the Ross Puma for her exhibition but hadn’t expected to meet one of the survivors. When she heard that David Ornsby, Operations Manager of the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, had got in touch with the Scottish Maritime Museum on behalf of Dennis to arrange a visit, she said she was “shocked” and described it as “perfect timing”.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “Hearing there was someone from Grimsby who wanted to speak was amazing.”

She continued: “Dennis’ is the only first-hand account from someone who was there. I never thought it would happen and I’m really happy and very grateful.”

David was thrilled for Dennis to be able to achieve a lifelong dream and was more than happy to help arrange the visit.

“Dennis has spoken to me for many years about his Ross Puma rescue. It has had a lasting impact on him. I always remember his ‘support RNLI’ stickers that he had on his car when I met him.

“We realised that the TGB was preserved at the Scottish Maritime Museum some years ago and have told people about the Ross Puma story on tours of the Ross Tiger.

“I think since discussing this, it has become a growing urge with Dennis to actually see the TGB again. He recently told me that he really needed to do this visit and asked if I would go with him.

“This is when, after viewing the Scottish Maritime Museum website, I called its Education Officer Claire Jones.

“Claire was wonderful, instantly enthusiastic, informed us of Amber and her project and the perfect timing.”

He added: “Our recent membership of the Humber Museums Partnership also allowed us access to funding for the visit and it was a great opportunity for our Education Officer and senior team to meet with Claire, Amber and the Scottish Maritime Museum staff.”

Recalling the incident almost 50 years on, Dennis remembers the harrowing moment he realised what was happening.

“I was half thrown out and half jumped out of my bunk,” he said. “My first thought was that we were going to die.

“I dashed on to the boat deck to see what was going on.”

The crew put their lifejackets on and got a life raft over the side, but a wave immediately washed it away.

“That just left us with one and we had to make sure it was really secure,” said Dennis, who added the skipper had fired the distress rockets but the height of the cliffs meant no-one could see them.

“The next thing we knew, we saw the TGB was coming round the headland. We heaved a big sigh of relief and that’s when the rescue started.”

For Dennis, coming face to face with the TGB once more was an extremely emotional moment.

“It was a dream fulfilled,” he said. Seeing the face of Dan Kirkpatrick in an exhibition alongside the TGB brought tears to his eyes.

Dennis had remembered the face of the RNLI crewman who had reached down to the life raft and pulled him out of the water saying “come on laddie,” but other memories had faded.

“Seeing the lifeboat again brought it all flooding back,” he said.

“Now I’ve done it I feel really satisfied that I have been and done it.”

Claire Jones, Learning, Engagement and Volunteer Manager at the Scottish Maritime Museum, added: “We’ve been honoured to work with the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre to make Dennis’s return visit possible and we look forward to future initiatives together.

“Dennis’ story gives a deeply human voice to TGB’s incredible service and reminds us of the bravery behind every lifeboat mission and commercial fishing trip. It’s also a moving addition to the oral histories that animate the historic vessels and objects in our nationally significant heritage collection.”

For more information on the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, visit https://fishingheritage.com/

For more information on the exhibition and the Scottish Maritime Museum, visit https://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/