SINGLE HANDED YACHTSMAN RESCUED FROM SEA OFF CORNWALL
A
single-handed yachtsman was rescued from the sea off Cornwall this morning
after his personal locator beacon alerted the Coastguard.
Falmouth Coastguard received the alert from the personal locator beacon at 10.30am. The position of the beacon was in the Brixham Coastguard’s area and so they took-over coordination for the rescue and asked the Royal Navy Rescue helicopter from Culdrose and the RNLI All-weather lifeboat from Fowey to go straight to the scene.
Falmouth Coastguard received the alert from the personal locator beacon at 10.30am. The position of the beacon was in the Brixham Coastguard’s area and so they took-over coordination for the rescue and asked the Royal Navy Rescue helicopter from Culdrose and the RNLI All-weather lifeboat from Fowey to go straight to the scene.
When
the helicopter arrived they found the yacht at 11.20am but couldn’t see anyone
onboard. They found the yachtsman in the water a little way from the vessel.
It’s believed that the yachtsman, who had been travelling from Port Mellion
back to his base at Plymouth, had been in the water for around an hour. He was
airlifted to hospital at Treliske for medical attention and two members of the
RNLI Lifeboat crew from Fowey sailed the yacht back to Fowey.
David
Colmer, Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager said:
“Today’s
rescue shows the value of being well equipped. The lone yachtsman was wearing a
lifejacket and the full standard waterproofs including gloves and hat. He was
unlucky enough to fall overboard whilst trying to execute a tricky manoeuvre
but was saved by his personal locator beacon that alerted the search and rescue
coordination services.
”Now
it’s easy to see why H.M. Coastguard recommends that single handed yachtsmen
should use personal locator beacons. They should also wear a lifejacket at all
times whilst on deck. These lifejackets should be well maintained and have a
sprayhood and whistle if possible.”
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