TWO MEN SAVED BY PASSING ANGLING BOAT

Two men were pulled from the sea this morning by a passing angling boat after their boat sank without warning.  

Humber coastguard received a 999 call at just before 9.00am from an angling boat. They told the coastguard that they had come across two men in the water about a mile off Hunt Cliff. When found, the men had been in the water for 90 minutes. They said their leisure boat had hit something and sank within 45 seconds. Only one of the men was wearing a lifejacket.

Humber coastguard immediately sent Staithes Inshore Lifeboat and the RNLI lifeboat from Redcar to the scene. The Coastguard Rescue Teams from Staithes was sent to prepare for the arrival of the men back on shore and Skinningrove Coastguard Rescue Team was asked to monitor the incident from Hunt Cliff. North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was called to provide medical assistance to the men as they were showing signs of hypothermia.

The two men were brought back to Staithes in a lifeboat from where they were transferred to the James Cook Hospital, Middlesborough to be checked for possible hypothermia, cold water shock and secondary drowning.

Mike Puplett, Watch Manager at Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre said:

“These two men were extraordinarily lucky. Not only did another boat happen upon them but with just one lifejacket between them they managed to stay afloat for 90 minutes. 

“Lifejackets are useless unless worn and incidents like this show why. Boats do sink without warning and the MCA recommends that lifejackets should be worn at all times while on deck”.

“I’d like to thank the passing angling boat for their assistance, they were lifesavers today.”

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

  1. Stay safe - before heading out on the water get trained, check weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol and keep in touch

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