Family and friends of a man who tragically lost his life while swimming off the Wirral coast have visited Hoylake RNLI lifeboat station to present a donation in his memory to one of the lifeboat crews that helped search for him.
Haydn Griffiths was an accomplished athlete and sailor from Lowton near Wigan, where the 23-year-old sailed competitively as a member of Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club.
Following Haydn’s sad passing in July 2022, the club decided to rename a racing event and establish a trophy in his memory that would raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Volunteer lifeboat crew from the RNLI at Hoylake and New Brighton took part in the multi-agency search for Haydn after he got into difficulty in the water last summer.
The inaugural Haydn Griffiths RNLI Trophy Day was held on Sunday 2 April 2023, with sailing club members and visitors taking part in numerous races throughout the day, raising over £800 in total.
Haydn’s sisters Megan and Brogan and baby nephew Roman visited Hoylake RNLI lifeboat station with some of Haydn’s friends and members of the Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club.
They met the station’s volunteer crew, before LLSC President Mike Barnes presented the club’s donation to Deputy 2nd Coxswain Matt Pownall-Jones.
The funds raised will go towards RNLI West Kirby Lifeboat’s appeal to fund a new D class inshore lifeboat for the Wirral station.
The Griffiths family have become advocates for water safety and drowning prevention through their ‘Stay Safe for Haydn’ campaign, while also raising funds for the RNLI.
Megan took part in the Trophy Day, paying tribute to her brother by racing in his Laser class dinghy. Brogan was 7 months pregnant during the search for Haydn. She is now completing the RNLI Mayday Mile with baby Roman, walking a mile every day in May to support the charity’s volunteers.
Speaking on behalf of her family, Megan said: “We are forever grateful to the RNLI crews at New Brighton and Hoylake for their tremendous efforts during the search for Haydn.
“They gave him the best possible chance of being found. They searched relentlessly and have continued to support our family throughout.
“It’s our turn to support them, with fundraising and awareness-raising. This is our Haydn’s legacy and we will keep it alive.”
After the funds raised by the sailing club were presented to the RNLI volunteers, they gave their visitors a guided tour of Hoylake’s Shannon class lifeboat, Inshore Rescue Hovercraft and boathouse.
Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNLI, Deputy 2nd Coxswain Matt Pownall-Jones said: “Our volunteers want to thank everyone who organised and took part in the Haydn Griffiths RNLI Trophy Day.
“It’s incredibly touching to see how many people have come together to help leave a special and lasting legacy in Haydn’s memory.
“The money raised will help fund a brand new lifeboat for West Kirby RNLI, which will save lives on the Wirral coast for many years to come.”
