Four Rescued From Sinking Boat

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Posted 18:56 GMT

The Portland Coastguard helicopter rescued four people from a sinking motor cruiser today after Portland Coastguard received a mayday call from the boat.

At 3.00 pm this afternoon Portland Coastguard received a mayday call
from the motor cruiser `Addarwa' stating that they were 1 mile south off
Portland Bill and were taking water fast. The Coastguard scrambled the
Portland Coastguard helicopter and requested the launch of the Weymouth
RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats. Portland Coastguard Rescue Team
were also requested to attend.

The boat had been recently purchased and was on delivery passage with
the skipper, owner and 2 other crew onboard. When they realised they
were sinking, they put on survival suits and lifejackets. They tried to
deploy the liferafts but were unable to do so, as the previous owner had
tied them down with wire strops to prevent them from being stolen.

Once the helicopter arrived on scene, it airlifted the four people from
the sinking vessel and took them back to shore.

Nigel Robson, Portland Coastguard Watch Manager says:

All four people are safe and well. The boat has now sunk south of
Portland Bill. Although the crew were well equipped with survival
equipment, they should have checked the liferafts more thoroughly to
allow their quick release in an emergency just such as this.

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