A LIFEJACKET COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE, EVEN WHEN YOUR BOAT’S IN HARBOUR


Humber Coastguard is reminding all boats users that lifejackets are useless unless worn after coordinating the rescue of a woman at Hartlepool this evening.

 

At 6.40 pm, Humber Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who was walking by Hartlepool Marina and could hear a woman screaming for help. Providing a commentary of events unfolding, the man pinpointed the exact location of the woman who had fallen from her boat into the water as it was alongside on its berth.

 

Members of the public had tried to rescue the woman without success and so the lock keeper launched his boat to assist with recovery. Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team also attended along with personnel from Hartlepool RNLI.

 

By the time that she was rescued, the woman had been in the water for over 20 minutes. She had tripped over a cleat on deck and fallen overboard. She had not been wearing a lifejacket. The woman was recovered by the lock keeper and taken to hospital by the North East Ambulance Service suffering from mild hypothermia and possible secondary drowning.

 

Mike Puplett, Watch Manager, Humber Coastguard:

 

“After over 20 minutes in the water with no lifejacket this woman is extremely lucky to be alive.

 

It’s easy to feel that you are relatively safe when your vessel is alongside but as we can see from this incident accidents can and do happen. Particular care needs to be taken when it’s dark and you are on your own. A lifejacket is your lifesaver, particularly with air and water temperatures at only a few degrees.”

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