Diver Found After Going Missing

At one oclock this afternoon, MRCC Milford Haven received a VHF DSC distress call from a vessel called Valley Divers reporting that one of their diving party was missing.

 

The divers had been diving the Garland Stone north of Skomer Island. Two divers had surfaced and one was recovered to the dive boat. The other was seen to drift away.

Milford Haven Coastguard upon receiving the distress call, broadcast a mayday relay on VHF to make other boat users aware of the situation and to secure assistance from them in the search for the diver. Several vessels responded to the broadcast and were directed by Milford Haven Coastguard to search a given area.

 

RAF Rescue Helicopter 169, St Davids RNLI ALB and ILB, Littlehaven RNLI ILB, Angle RNLI ALB were all requested to launch and were also given search instructions by Milford Haven Coastguard who were coordinating all the assets in this search for the missing diver. Dale Coastguard rescue team and Preseli and South Pembs Sector Managers were called out to assist from the shoreline. NCI Wooltack Point assisted by relaying information to Milford Haven Coastguard.

 

The diver was located by the Galway Fisher, closely followed by the Isle of Inishmore. He was winched out of the water by R169 and landed at Withybush Airfield. The diver had drifted approximately 6 miles in 2 hours.

 

He was a 49 year old male wearing a black wetsuit with a stability vest. He had deployed his orange SMB.

 

The diver was located in the search area that was calculated by Milford Haven Coastguard.

Bob Peel, Watch Manager, Milford Haven Coastguard said:

 

We would like to thank all the private vessels that responded to the mayday relay broadcast.

 

The dive boat was fully equipped and called the Coastguard as soon as they realised they needed assistance.

 

Thankfully the diver was located and recovered without any ill effects, this incident highlights how far a person can be carried by tidal currents in a very short space of time.

 

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401