GIRL IN KAYAK SWEPT OUT AT DERBYHAVEN
A
7-year-old girl was rescued from the bay at Derbyhaven this afternoon after
being swept offshore by southwesterly winds.
The
Marine Operations Centre based at the Isle of Man contacted Liverpool
Coastguard at 1.26 pm to let them know that they been alerted to a young child
being blown offshore in a sea kayak. The
mother of the child had swam approximately 100 metres out to try and rescue the
girl but was not able to reach her and was forced to turn back.
Liverpool
Coastguard requested the launch of the Ronaldsway Airport Inshore Rescue Boat
and the Port St Mary RNLI lifeboat, along with sending the Castletown
Coastguard Rescue Team. Concerned that
the child might get swept out of the bay, Liverpool Coastguard also contacted
the HSC Manannan Ferry and asked them to keep a visual of the child at a safe
distance to ensure she was not swept out further.
Two
other sea kayakers on scene attempted to rescue the child but all three ended
up on the rocks. The Ronaldsway Airport Inshore
Rescue Boat then brought the girl and her kayak back to shore.
Volunteers
in the Castletown coastguard team spoke to the parents of the girl and gave
some safety advice about the dangers of offshore winds.
Paul
Parkes, Liverpool Coastguard Watch Manager said:
“When
undertaking any leisure activities on the water with young children we would
always recommend that they are accompanied by a capable adult. As this incident shows, offshore winds can be
extremely hazardous to children in inflatables or any craft where they are not
able to make it back to shore unaided.”