Strangford pier tragedy

Strangford pier tragedy

5 August 2020

STRANGFORD is mourning former broadcaster and environmentalist Brian Black, who died after his car plunged into the harbour close to the ferry quay yesterday morning.

Despite a major rescue operation by the emergency services, ferry employees and local people just before noon, the 77 year-old died later in hospital.

It is not yet known what caused Mr Black’s Honda car to enter the water, but locals say that this is the first incident of its type in living memory.

His former UTV colleague, Gerry Kelly, tweeted: “I am devastated to learn of the tragic death of my former UTV colleague Brian Black. May he rest in peace.”

A major rescue operation got underway when the alarm was raised by HM Coastguard at 11.30am. 

Witnesses said the car was thought to have nosed into the water at the quay and was left half submerged after it landed on its driver’s side.

Ferry employees and nearby residents were first on the scene and made concerted attempts to rescue Mr Black from his car ahead of the emergency services arriving.

Andrew Steenson said he was alerted about the car in the water by another ferry employee. 

He also revealed he had spoken to Mr Black earlier that morning.

“I can’t say who was the first to realise that the car had gone into the water, but I got a call from my cousin who also works in the ferry and told to get over to the quay as there was a car in the water,” he said.

“I have no idea as to how long the car had been in the water before it was spotted. I think the first person who was there trying to help was one of the ferry engineers.”

Mr Steenson said that when he arrived at the quay he saw the car lying on its side and he jumped into the water to try and help.

“We broke windows in the car to try and get Brian out. I honestly don’t know what all the rest of the boys were doing as I was so focused on what I was doing. All I could hear were sirens going on in the background and then the emergency services helped us and the coastguard to get Brian out of water.”

Mr Steenson said that he had been speaking with Mr Black earlier yesterday where they had made plans to meet that evening to help remove Mr Black’s yacht from the water for maintenance.

He said of the rescue efforts: “We all did everything we could. We reacted on our instincts and did all we could to help. 

“I’m born and raised in Strangford and that’s the first time I’ve ever heard of a car going into the water at the quay. This has just been a tragic accident.”

Dave Williams’ son, Dylan, rushed home to tell him about what had happened.

He said: “When I got there, the man was still in the car and the man from the ferry was in the water trying to help him out. I jumped in and tried to roll the car up but that didn’t work. I thought to get a rope to tie it to the car and pull the car that way. We did that and pulled it to the quay. 

“We got into the car but the man’s leg was trapped so we managed to get the car moved to release his legs. We managed to get him out and put him on the quay.”

Local man Deeks McFall also rushed to help. He said: “I didn’t do a terrible lot but I jumped on to the car and tried to move it as we saw that Brian’s leg was trapped.”

A crane was used to lift the car from the water and Mr Black was removed.

The rescue operation involving the PSNI and emergency services was watched by local people and tourists to the coastal village.

Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team and Portaferry RNLI were tasked to the scene, along with the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick. 

At one point, the search and rescue helicopter carried out an infrared search of the water for a possible second occupant of the car but this was later called off.

Two fire appliances from Downpatrick, another from Ballynahinch and the Fire and Rescue Service’s specialist rescue team also attended the incident along with police.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dispatched two emergency crews, one Hazardous Area Response Team and an officer. The Air Ambulance was also tasked.

Once freed from the car, Mr Black was taken by land ambulance to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Mr Black had made the Strangford area his home for decades and lived on the Shore Road.

He visited the quay most days and frequently enjoyed sailing his yacht on Strangford Lough and further afield, including the Arctic Ocean. He was a member of Quoile Yacht Club.

Passionate about the natural beauty of the lough, he was instrumental in developing Strangford Yacht Haven in 2015 to attracting more visiting boats.

Mr Black was a highly respected former journalist, who worked for RTE and UTV. He later ran his own production company, Evergreen Media, specialising in documentaries on environmental issues and climate change impact.

Mr Black’s wife, Lesley, died from cancer last September. He leaves behind his son, Kieron, daughter Sarah and granddaughter Penelope.