LIFEJACKET - WEARING FISHERMAN RESCUED FROM SEA

A fisherman who had been moving his boat when it was swamped and began to sink was rescued from the sea this evening near Sugar Loaf, off the Calf of Man.
The Port Erin RNLI lifeboat crew were about to go out on exercise at 6.15 pm this evening,  when a man came to the door of their boathouse. He reported that his friend, who had been moving his boat to Port St Mary, had not returned as expected. The lifeboat launched and reported to Liverpool Coastguard that they were searching for the fisherman and his boat.  A short while later the boat was found by the lifeboat and the fisherman was quickly located about half a mile away. The man had drifted away from his boat but was wearing a lifejacket and had his whistle in his mouth so that he could attract the attention of the lifeboat crew.
Ian Jackson, Liverpool Coastguard Watch Officer says:
“The fisherman took some sensible safety precautions which mean that I am very happy to report that he is now safe and well. Firstly he was wearing a lifejacket so that when he fell into the water his survival time increased significantly. Secondly he told someone where he was going and when he expected to come back. And finally, the person he informed had the sense to report that he was missing in good time (just 45 minutes after he was expected to return) so that the lifeboat was able to get to him relatively quickly.
“If you’re going out on the water, make sure that you take a good method of communication with you. On a boat a VHF DSC radio is ideal, and a mobile phone in a sealed plastic bag is a good back up. Call 999 and ask for the coastguard in an emergency at sea. And of course wear your lifejacket. It’s useless unless you wear it!”

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