FISHING VESSEL STRUCK BY LIGHTNING OFF RAMSGATE


The fishing vessel ‘Progress’ was struck by lightning this afternoon when fishing a few miles off North Foreland.
The lightning hit the wheelhouse shattering the windows. The strike also destroyed all the electrical equipment and navigation lights. Luckily, both crew members were on the deck at the time and so escaped injury.
Using a mobile phone the crew called the Ramsgate RNLI Lifeboat for assistance. They towed the vessel back to Ramsgate where the crew were met by the Coastguard Rescue Team from Margate.
Dover Coastguard Watch Manager Bob Giles said:
 "The crew of this fishing vessel were extremely lucky. They were fishing in an area with mobile phone reception and so still had a way to call for help when the lightning strike blew out their communications equipment, shattered the glass in the wheel house, disabled their engine and blew a seacock through the bottom of the vessel causing an ingress of water.
"Dover Coastguard were called and Ramsgate lifeboat was tasked to attend and tow the vessel back to Ramsgate Harbour. "

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