FIVE AIRLIFTED FROM GROUNDED YACHT

Five men have been airlifted off their yacht this afternoon after it grounded on the Goodwin Sands.

The yacht ‘Liquid Fusion’ contacted Dover Coastguard to inform them that their yacht was grounded at 1.30 pm this afternoon. The coastguard requested the Ramsgate inshore and all weather lifeboats to launch. Once the lifeboats were on scene, an assessment was made and it was decided that due to weather and tidal conditions the best course of action would be to airlift the five men off the vessel. All five were wearing lifejackets. An RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham was scrambled and the five men were airlifted from the vessel and taken to Manston Airfield.

Nicola Goodban, Dover Coastguard Watch Manager says:

“The weather on scene is south westerly force 5-7 so a decision was made, in the interests of safety, to winch the five men off the yacht. The lifeboats are still on scene and are hoping to recover the yacht as the tide rises.”

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