ANGLERS RESCUED AFTER CAPSIZING IN SOLENT

Two men were rescued by a lifeboat from the sea after their angling boat capsized in the Solent this morning.

At 9.33am Solent Coastguard received two 999 calls about hearing shouts for help somewhere out in the Solent. Strangely, one caller was on the mainland and the other caller was on the Isle Of Wight.  Solent Coastguard requested the launch of Cowes RNLI lifeboat and Cowes Harbour Master also offered assistance. 

Two men in their 60’s were located and rescued from the water and transferred to shore by the Cowes lifeboat and taken by ambulance to St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight with symptoms of hypothermia.

The two anglers had left Bucklers Hard this morning in the 14 foot angling boat and had got into difficulty when their boat quickly capsized while putting out the anchor. 

Watch Manager Matt West at Solent Coastguard says,

“The men rescued today were not wearing their lifejackets, which were stowed on board.  They were extremely lucky that the particularly calm weather and atmospheric conditions out on the Solent this morning enabled people on shore to hear their calls for help from quite some distance away.”

Notes to Editors

Lifejackets and buoyancy aids:

Recreational boaters should wear an appropriate personal floatation device such as a lifejacket or buoyancy aid at all times whilst on deck.

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