Fishing Vessel Sinks As Three Go Into Water

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Posted 18:57 GMT

A fishing vessel Jubilee Star was towing nets earlier this afternoon off Dunoon on the Clyde when its nets got caught on sea bed and the vessel capsized putting 3 people into the water. Clyde Coastguard immediately began coordinating assistance.

Their liferaft was subsequently deployed and the three crew managed to climb aboard the raft whilst awaiting rescue.

The Dunoon Coastguard Team were immediately sent to the scene whilst the Helensburgh RNLI lifeboat was requested to assist, and a nearby fishing vessel Guide Me responded to Clyde Coastguards emergency call to say that they would haul their nets and go to help.

A helicopter was scrambled from the Royal Naval air base at Prestwick and a Police RHIB, and helicopter were also sent to the scene.

The Guide Me took the three individuals from the liferaft and then the rescue helicopter winched them up to the aircraft before flying them to landing site in Dunoon where an ambulance was waiting to take them to Dunoon Hospital. The Coastguard Rescue Team also attended the winching area and went to the hospital to gather details from the three survivors.

Richard Morgan, Watch Manager at Clyde Coastguard said

With sea temperatures at around 6 degrees at this time of year they were very lucky to just have suffered from some mild hypothermia. No injuries have been reported. Fortunately the crew had made sure before they put to sea that their liferaft was fully operational and this undoubtedly had a significant impact on their chances of survival.

We would like to thank the crew of the Guide Me who responded so quickly to our emergency broadcast, and all the other personnel of the rescue units who attended.

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