Four Rescued after 999 Call to London Coastguard

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Posted 15:32 GMT

At quarter past eleven this morning, a mayday call was received by Thames Coastguard.

The initial mayday call received by the Coastguard was the spoken word mayday with the name of the vessel Muddy Waters, but they were unable to give a position before communication was lost.

Almost immediately, London Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting that they had seen two people clambering ashore covered in mud and two other people struggling in the water.

London Coastguard were very quickly able to secure the assistance of two launches, one from the London Port Health authority and one from the Port of London Harbour authority, whilst also requesting the launch of Gravesend RNLI lifeboat.

The launches and lifeboat were all on scene within minutes of being called and were able to rescue the two people remaining in the water and the two men on the mud.

Onboard the yacht called Muddy Waters, were the forty five year old owner, one fifteen year old girl and two nineteen year old men. The two nineteen year olds managed to make it to the shore, but the skipper and girl ended up in the water.
Only the skipper was wearing a lifejacket.

The vessel was on passage from Whitstable to London. It is believed that the 27 foot fin keel yacht struck an underwater groyne on the North Shore near Gravesend.

Kent Ambulance were called to the incident and took all four to hospital for further medical assessment.

Anthony Mayhew, Watch Manager, London Coastguard said:

We would like to thank the member of the public who witnessed this incident unfolding and dialled 999 for the Coastguard. Undoubtedly, with the information received from that person, we were able to swiftly direct rescue resources to the situation these sailors found themselves in. This incident could very easily have had a different outcome.

We would also like to remind people on or near the water to wear lifejackets. Lifejackets can make a significant contribution to the saving of life.

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