Person rescued in gale force weather after boat runs aground
A person who ran
aground in gale force weather has been rescued by the UK Coastguard search and
rescue helicopter based at Lydd in Walpole Bay, Kent earlier this morning.
UK Coastguard
were alerted to the man’s plight shortly before 9am, after receiving multiple
999 calls from members of the public reporting that the vessel had run aground
on rocks.
The Coastguard
made immediate contact with the vessel using Channel 16 – the designated
emergency channel – and established that the vessel was taking on water and the
person was wearing a life jacket.
Although the
vessel was only a short distance from shore, the lifeboat was unable to be
tasked due the vessel’s precarious position on the rocks and the gale force 9
weather and rough seas. The UK Coastguard helicopter at Lydd was
immediately sent to the scene, along with the Margate Coastguard Rescue Team
who tried to stabilise the vessel with ropes.
The vessel,
which had left Canvey Island and was heading to Ramsgate before it grounded,
eventually had to be abandoned due to the bad weather and the man was winched
on board the helicopter and taken safely to shore. Despite his ordeal he
is uninjured and requires no medical treatment.
Al Dale, Captain
for the UK Coastguard Lydd search and rescue helicopter said: ‘The person
appeared to have been caught out by some atrocious conditions this morning and
as a result, the vessel had run aground just off Margate. Despite his
misfortune, the tide was on its way out and by the time Rescue 163 arrived on
scene, there was a 1 hour window offering permissive conditions to recover him
and for the Margate Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team to get a line to the boat. The
person was winched to safety and it serves as a timely reminder to have a
correctly fitted life-preserver and the importance of clear distress calls when
speaking to the UK Coastguard.’
Bev Allen, Duty Controller for the UK Coastguard said: ‘This was a
challenging evacuation in very bad weather. Thankfully, the person on
board was wearing a lifejacket in case the worst should happen, but our
helicopter and Coastguard Rescue Teams arrived quickly on scene and were able
to bring him to a place of safety. We’d like to thank all the members of
the public who vigilantly reported this incident to the Coastguard – as their
actions undoubtedly saved his life today. Margate Coastguard Rescue Team have now
stabilised the vessel and made it safe. We would urge people who are in
difficulty, to call us immediately using Channel 16 or 999 and asking for the
Coastguard. Don’t wait for things to improve because the situation could
worsen and vital rescue time could be lost.’