Present day – Thursday, 20th October
It seems that time has stood still as she leans over him, willing him to live, and she's almost given up hope when, miraculously, she thinks she feels a pulse. With a sharp intake of breath, she moves her fingers to the other side of his neck, needing to confirm that she's not dreaming, that there is a pulse, that he's alive. It's there, it's really there! It's very weak, but it's unmistakeably there. He's alive! She turns her head as she leans over him again, hoping to feel his breath on her cheek or see his chest rise as he breathes. It's useless. She can't see a bloody thing and her skin is so cold, she can't feel anything. But surely he must have water in his lungs, she decides. There's no way he could have got here without that happening, seeing as he's unconscious. So she begins chest compressions, murmuring every so often, "Come on, Harry!"
She continues for what seems like hours without stopping. She can't stop. She doesn't want to give up on him, give up hope. The waves no longer reach them, but it makes little difference seeing as the rain is pelting down hard. "Come on!" she says again, growing angry. "You can't give up, Harry. Section D needs you. I need you."
Suddenly a shape materializes next to her, making her jump and yell in surprise. It's a dog, warm and wet and barking it's head off. She pauses momentarily in her attempts to resuscitate Harry, realising that this dog belongs to someone who might be able to help them. Then a beam of light illuminates her and the dog, and as she turns towards it, she can see it's source bouncing as the person holding it comes running towards them. He doesn't even hesitate before throwing himself onto his knees on the other side of Harry and proffering out the torch. "Here," he shouts. "Hold this." She just makes out his words above the din of the storm, so she takes it from him and watches as he takes over the chest compressions, working feverishly, and as she turns the torch beam onto Harry's face, she can see that his physical strength is what was needed as the water begins to pour out of Harry's mouth. It seems like aeons later that Harry begins to splutter and cough, and the man turns him over into the recovery position as Ruth's eyes fill with tears of relief and gratitude.