HUMBER COASTGUARD RESCUE MAN FROM LIFERAFT
Humber
Coastguard requested the Hartlepool RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats to
the scene as well as the Tynemouth all weather
lifeboat. The Seaham Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked and the RAF rescue
helicopter from Boulmer also dispatched.
Humber
Coastguard also received a number of 999 calls from the public and local
vessels in the area who could see the smoke plumes and the yacht on fire.
Humber
Coastguard Watch Manager Mark Ellis said:
“When we
spoke to this gentleman, it was clear that he was foreign, but through broken
English we were able to instruct him to discharge his personal locator beacon
(PLB) which gave us an exact location. However due to the highly visible smoke on
scene many vessels were already en route to assist.