A "hero" dad who saved the lives of six people has died suddenly.
Lewis Mulhearn died on January 21, two years after he and his fishing crew were blown up by a WWII bomb. The 39-year-old was the captain of the Galwad Y Mor vessel, which was hit with explosives 37 miles off the coast of Skegness.
The dad, who grew up in Skelmersdale until the age of nine, saved the lives of all six members of his crew, despite sustaining numerous horrific and life changing injuries of his own. His injuries included a blow to the head, three broken vertebrae, a broken sternum, knee damage, a broken orbital bone and multiple face lacerations.
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Lewis made sure they were all safe and that he was the last off the boat. He remained calm and ensured the safe evacuation of his crew by sending a distress signal to the coastguard and the vessel’s sister ship, before launching the life-raft and preparing his crew to abandon ship wearing their lifejackets.
For his bravery Lewis was awarded the 2021 Emile Robin Award from The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society presented by Princess Ann. The dad's family said for past two years, the 39-year-old suffered both mentally and physically and died earlier this year as a result of the explosion.
Lewis leaves behind his "amazing" wife Jodie and his three young sons, Frankie, nine, Lewie, seven, and Reggie, four, as well as his step-children Kia, 23 and Will, 18. His brothers and sisters Ryan, Alan, Clare, Toni, Anna, Gemma and Jade are now hoping to raise as much funds as possible to help the boys make happy memories and to support them with things they may need.
Speaking to the ECHO, sister Clare Blasbery said Lewis, who still has family living in Skelmersdale and in Liverpool, was a "gentle giant".
Paying tribute, she said: "Lewis was an amazing brother, he was an amazing man. He was really funny.
"Lewis was born in Ormskirk and lived in Skelmersdale until he was nine years old. He then moved to Devon where he grew up in Paignton. His work led to him to live and work in Holyhead but eventually he settled in Dorset where he married and had a family.
"He settled in Weymouth with his family and he was just dead funny. We always used to wind each other up when we were kids. He had a big heart, he would give you his last pound if you needed it.
"He would give you the shirt of his back, he would literally do anything for anyone. Lewis was a gentle giant, he was 6ft 2in, but had a heart of gold. Anyone who met him just loved him.
"No one had a bad word to say about him, he was just a really nice, kind man. He loved his siblings as well."
Regarding the rescue, Clare added: "It was amazing what he achieved, there were six crew on the boat and he put them all before himself. He made sure they were OK, he got them off, he called for help.
"He made sure every single one of them crew [members] were OK despite having a broken back, he was battered from the explosion. First and foremost, he put them before himself and that was the kind of man he was.
"He thought of others before himself."
Writing on the GoFundMe page, Lewis' three boys also wrote a message to their hero dad.
Frankie said: "My dad was the only dad I will ever have. I wish I could bring him back. He will be my hero for the rest of my life, he will always be in my heart and the stars."
Lewie said: "Dad was the best hero in the world, he was the best dad in the world. I love him so much, I wish I could bring him back."
Reggie also said: "I love my dad, he was a hero, he saved everyone on the boat, I love my dad."
To donate to the GoFundMe page to help Lewis' family, please click here.
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