Fishing brothers receive awards for life-saving rescues four months apart

In a remarkable coincidence, Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Mark Longthorne and his brother Shaun were each involved in separate life-saving rescues just months apart.

The brothers, who are bailiffs and members of the Doncaster & District Angling Association (DDAA), were recently recognised for their bravery with Royal Humane Society awards, presented by Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

In August 2023, Mark was on a routine patrol at Sprotbrough on the River Don in Doncaster when he came across an area littered with empty beer bottles before he spotted a drunken man face down in the water. Luckily, the man’s head was resting on a rock, creating a small gap that allowed him to breathe.

Without hesitation, Mark called 999 and waded into the river, holding the man above the water for a considerable time until emergency services arrived. His quick actions undoubtedly saved the man’s life despite the dangers posed by the river, renowned for areas of fast-flowing water and flash floods.

Just three days after Christmas 2023, brother Shaun found himself in a similarly perilous situation. While setting out to patrol a known illegal fishing spot, Shaun spotted a man sitting on a bridge, appearing ready to jump onto the railway tracks below.

After calling 999, Shaun calmly approached the man and started a conversation. When the man suddenly moved to jump, Shaun rushed forward, grabbed the man and pulled him back over the safety rail and onto the pavement. Despite a struggle, Shaun managed to restrain him until police and paramedics arrived. His decisive intervention likely saved the man’s life.

Mark said that he would not hesitate to help anyone in a similar position in future and has on numerous occasions had to call the police and ambulances to help people in trouble.

He added: “Working as a Club and Voluntarily Bailiff isn’t just about kicking people off and handing out day tickets, quite often you can help individuals in need, witness crimes in progress, and even help injured animals and wildlife. It was only about a month ago that me and another of our team rescued a sheep that had fallen 15 feet and was stuck on a ledge on a canal. The water is 12 feet deep, and it had no chance of survival, so I took my ladders and a rope to rescue it. It’s just what we do.”

The brothers were nominated for the Royal Humane Society awards by Kevin Woodcock, Northeast Regional Enforcement Support Manager for the Angling Trust’s Voluntary Bailiff Service.

Praising the bravery of the Longthorne brothers, Kevin said: “It’s rare to find such committed bailiffs who also happen to be brothers that have gone above and beyond, putting themselves in harm’s way to save the lives of others. Knowing them both personally through their work as bailiffs, it was my pleasure to nominate Mark and Shaun.”

The Longthorne brothers’ selfless actions stand as a testament to their commitment to their community, both on and off the water.

Ed Milliband was equally impressed, saying: “It was an honour to meet Shaun and Mark Longthorne and present them with their Royal Humane Society awards. Shaun and Mark acted in a truly heroic way, with great selflessness and bravery. Their awards are thoroughly deserved.

“I was also very impressed to hear of the excellent work that the Angling Trust and Doncaster & District Angling Association do on a whole range of issues.”

In addition to the brothers’ recognition, Ian Hurst, Head Bailiff of the Doncaster & District Angling Association was presented with an award on behalf of all the bailiffs for their efforts in combating rural and fishing-related crime and providing crucial intelligence to the Environment Agency and South Yorkshire Police over recent years.

The work of the Voluntary Bailiffs and the Fisheries Enforcement Support Service is fully funded through rod licence income and delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency.

Please click here for an application form and more details about becoming a Voluntary Bailiff.

Mark Longthorne with award

Shaun Longthorne with award

Ian Hurst with Angling Trust Certificate of Excellence award which he received on behalf of all the bailiffs at Doncaster & District Angling Association