Canadian submarine limps into naval base

It took more than 120 hours but a stricken Canadian submarine was today towed ashore as a royal navy diver told of how a crewman almost drowned in the rescue operation.

HMCS Chicoutimi, which made a Mayday call on Tuesday afternoon after a “severe” fire on board, was pulled back into a Scottish naval base following a rescue bid involving forces from both sides of the Atlantic.

As the submarine approached HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, near Glasgow, Navy personnel on board HMS Montrose -- the first large vessel on the scene - recounted the moment one of the submarine’s crew was washed overboard by a freak wave and spoke of the “enormous acts of bravery” of those trying to save the lives of the Canadian crew.

Leading Diver Garth Spence, of the Northern Diving Group, based at Faslane, who was among a team of divers who helped attach the towline to the Chicoutimi in “atrocious” weather conditions, told of how he saved the life of a Canadian Submariner.

“The problem was rigging the tow on the submarine, with waves crashing sometimes four or five feet above the casing. There were crew members on the deck, when a wave came over the front of the submarine and one of them was washed onto the port side.

“He was tethered to the casing using a safety harness which prevented him from floating clear and his feet became trapped under the casing.

“I had to get in and cut him free so I put my flippers on and jumped in.

“He said ‘cut me free, I think I only have two breaths left’. I just sat down next to him and gave him a big hug and told him he was going to be alright.

“He was very panicky, he was scared. I was lucky to grab hold of him because the waves were knocking me about.”

Mr Spence said he later met the submariner following his brush with death.

“I managed to meet him on board and we shook hands and he said thanks.

“We didn’t speak about it much. It’s hard to speak about these things, but he was a nice lad and I think he was very, very grateful.”