Family Raises Over £300 for RNLI in Memory of Rescued Man
On 11 May 1971, Christopher Zawadski and his crewmate, Jim (Bunt) Knight, were rescued by the Longhope RNLI Lifeboat, David & Elizabeth King & E.B., after encountering difficulties in the notoriously dangerous waters of the Pentland Firth. Sadly, Christopher passed away on 12 January 2025. At his fu
Christopher was born on 14 June 1947 and his family describe that, ‘Christopher was of Orkney, Tadeusz [Ted] and Catherine had embraced the islands as their home, and his love and appreciation of Orkney’s nature and its people was profound. From snaring rabbits at Quanterness as a boy to catching fish and lobsters in Harris recently, it’s safe to say that he was a hunter and fisherman all his life. He fished during his down time in merchant navy days, the appeal of fishing always being too strong to ignore. It took him to some of the most dangerous waters around the north of Scotland along the Caithness coast with little in the way of navigational aides, edging his way into nooks and crannies along the way to put down his creels. Then he discovered Cape Wrath and dared to fish where few boats were venturing at that time in the early 1970s.’
On 11 May 1971 whilst out fishing aboard the MFV Tussan K165, a 30ft fishing vessel built by Mackay’s Boatyard, Stromness in 1970, Christopher and his crewman became stranded when their engine broke down in the middle of the Merry men of Mey. In a letter of thanks written to the Longhope Lifeboat Crew following the rescue, Christopher described the area in which they found themselves stranded, ‘The Merry Men are well named due to the wild and erratic wave activity caused by rocky shoals which jut out into the Pentland Firth between the North Coast of Scotland and Orkney. These obstruct the tidal flow as it pours West at speeds of over eight knots. The tide is forced, like a river in spate, from 200 feet deep near Stroma to depths of 50 feet off St John’s Point in Caithness. This accelerates the speed of the water which then hits the westerly swell head on in a frightening climax. The result is a cauldron of monstrous spouts and breakers battling for supremacy. From peak to trough these breakers can be 60 feet high and have taken many lives.
Bobby Halcro, a friend of Christophers, recalls being told the story, ‘Christopher and my Grandad Leslie Halcro fished the Pentland Firth around the Pentland Skerries and Stroma, then from Fair Isle to West Cape Wrath with Jim Knight (Young Bunt). Around 1972 disaster struck, dirty fuel choked the filter off Stroma lighthouse. Having no power and being completely immobile they were at the mercy of the perilous big westerly swell and huge breakers against an ebb tide, resulting in a ferocious Merry Men of Mey. It was at this point they shook hands thinking ‘this is it’.
In his letter, Christopher describes, ‘Although huge breakers which would have swamped us were crashing all around us, for some reason our stricken little lobster boat, the Tussan, only 30 feet long, seemed to miss the most deadly ones as we tumbled and rolled sometimes falling through the air from the wave tops. We were pummelled and pushed remorselessly west by the tide against the wind for miles when suddenly we saw her up to the Northeast – the new Longhope Lifeboat, heading straight for us.’
Bobby Halcro continues, ‘Somehow they got through and an Irish coaster, the Ballyrory heard their Mayday over Wick radio and it came and went round and round them smoothing the waves and showing the Lifeboat where to go, when the Longhope Lifeboat came to the rescue and towed them to Scrabster. They were very thankful. I believe they were the first rescue of the new Longhope Lifeboat, and Jacko Leslie – Coxwain at the time – named the bar of his establishment (Stroma Bank) in Hoy/Longhope the ‘Tussan Bar’ afterwards.’
Onboard the David & Elizabeth King & E.B was John Budge, now a retired member of the Longhope lifeboat crew, who recalls the rescue with typical Orcadian modesty, ‘The ‘Tussan’ was the first proper rescue with the Solent Class named David & Elizabeth King & EB. She arrived in Longhope in December 1970 and conveyed a few patient transfers to Balfour Hospital. ‘Tussan’ was at the mercy of the weather at the Swilky Point off Stroma’s North West Coast. With their engine stopped Chris Zawadsky and young Bunt Knight were adrift. We got a rope to them and had them on their way to Scrabster arriving around the end of daylight. We were well received in Scrabster where we were taken to The Fishermen’s Mission for Tea and bacon rolls before leaving for the trip back to Longhope. I think the boys were glad to be towed to safety.’
Christopher was indeed glad to be towed to safety stating, ‘No words will ever be able to describe the relief we felt at that time. Our gratitude to these finest of men, and bravest of souls who went before them, is as boundless as the ocean they saved us from’
Christopher's rescue, which took place over fifty years ago, highlights the enduring importance of the RNLI's life-saving role. The RNLI relies entirely on the generosity of individuals like Christopher's family. Their thoughtful donation is deeply appreciated and will help Longhope RNLI acquire the essential equipment needed to continue saving lives at sea. Our sincere thanks go to Patricia Lidderdale (Christopher’s sister) and the entire family. Our thoughts remain with you.
The Voyage
by Christie Moore
I am a sailor, you’re my first mate,
We signed on together, we coupled our fate,
Hauled up our anchor, determined not to fail,
For the hearts treasure, together we set sail.
With no maps to guide us we steered our own course,
Rode out the storms when the winds were gale force,
Sat out the doldrums in patience and hope:
Working together we learned how to cope.
Life is an ocean and love is a boat,
In troubled water that keeps us afloat,
When we started the voyage, there was just me and you –
Now gathered round us, we have our own crew.
Together we’re in this relationship,
We built it with care to last the whole trip,
Our true destination’s not marked on any charts;
We’re navigating to the shores of the heart.
Life is an ocean and love is a boat,
In troubled water that keeps us afloat,
When we started the voyage, there was just me and you –
Now gathered round us, we have our own crew.
RIP Christopher Zawadski 14 June 1947 - 2025
Notes to editors
· Longhope lifeboat station has been operating since 1874. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: Longhope Lifeboat Station (rnli.org)
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