Mayday call saves the lives of two people and their dog after vessel sinks


At 11.45am today UK Coastguard received a Mayday relay broadcast from a passing vessel which had heard the original broadcast on Channel 72.  They reported that a vessel with two people on board was sinking 15 miles west of Weymouth within Lyme Bay, Dorset.

Three vessels nearby responded to the Mayday broadcast and made their way to the sinking vessel. 

Lyme Bay and Weymouth lifeboats and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Portland were immediately sent to the scene. A Royal Navy wildcat helicopter that was operating within the search area offered assistance and was the first to locate the casualties in the water.

The two people and a dog were pulled from the water by the lifeboat.   Both people have been taken to the Dorchester Hospital – one by land ambulance and one by the helicopter

Steve Mann, Duty Controller for the UK Coastguard said:  ‘These two people made a Mayday call as soon as they realised they were in trouble and fortunately a passing vessel was monitoring the same channel - this undoubtedly saved their lives today.  Their vessel sank extremely quickly and couldn’t be saved. Despite their ordeal we believe that they are in a relatively stable condition. UK Coastguard would like to remind people that Channel 16 is the channel designated for distress and urgency calls.  So if you get into difficulty at sea, call the UK Coastguard on Channel 16.  We wish these two people and their dog a speedy recovery.’

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