Divers Rescued During Strong Tidal Conditions

Sunday, April 12, 2009
Posted 15:36 GMT

Seven shore divers were rescued off Porthgwarra near Lands End this afternoon after the strong spring tides began to sweep them away.

Falmouth Coastguard received a number of 999 calls at midday from walkers to report that the divers were calling for help and in difficulty quarter of a mile off the coast. Lands End Coastguard Rescue Team, who were already assembled since they were about to undertake some training, were sent to the scene. The Sennen Cove RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats, which were already out exercising were also requested to go to the scene and the rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled.

Within ten minutes the rescue resources arrived at Porthgwarra and began their search for the divers. Five of the divers were found by the inshore lifeboat ¼ mile off Gwennap Head and were taken on board. Another two were reported as missing but were soon found by the helicopter on rocks which they had managed to make their way towards. They were picked up by the inshore lifeboat. All seven were taken ashore.

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager Marc Thomas says:

These divers were fortunate that the walkers spotted them and reported their plight to us, and that we were able to get rescue resources to them so quickly. The currents in that particular area are strong and it is easy to be swept away. Since they were already at Lands End, their next stop, if they had not been rescued so swiftly, would have been the Isles of Scilly.

This diving group had come to the area from the north-west of England. They were a mixed age and mixed gender group. It was their first sea diving expedition in the UK. They werent aware of the strong tidal conditions in the area and did not have a safety boat with them on scene. I strongly advise any less experienced shore divers to dive in more sheltered and less tidal conditions.

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