FISHERMEN AIRLIFTED FROM CAPSIZED VESSEL OFF PORTLAND

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Posted 14:33 GMT

Two fishermen have been picked up by a passing fishing vessel and airlifted to hospital by the Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter after their boat capsized this morning.

At 8.17am Portland Coastguard received a MAYDAY radio broadcast from the fishing vessel Girl Deborah reporting that they had seen the fishing vessel Aleyna suddenly capsized, 20 miles South West of Portland Bill. Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter was scrambled to the scene, while the crew of the Girl Deborah managed to recover the two crew from the capsized boat from the water. They were winched on board the Coastguard Helicopter and transferred to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

The Exmouth RNLI lifeboat attended the scene to recover debris and have recovered the liferaft which was floating nearby. The capsized vessel which was afloat with nets on the seabed, sank at 10.30am.

The Aleyna is a 14 metre fishing vessel working out of Brixham and registered in Jersey. The crew was fishing at the time of the capsizing.

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