Coastguard Helicopter Plucks Man From Sunken Vessel in Solent

Thursday, December 11, 2008
Posted 01:42 GMT

Solent Coastguard Rescue Helicopter arrived on scene above a sinking fishing boat just in time to winch the occupant out of the water after the vessel sank. The skipper, a 29 year old man from the Isle of Wight, has been transferred by helicopter to Newport on the Isle of Wight.

At 11.44pm on Wednesday, Solent Coastguard received a MayDay from the skipper of the 8 metre fishing vessel Sea Raider, reporting that he was taking in water and the vessel was sinking. The position reported was mid Solent, approximately one mile offshore and two miles to the East of Cowes.

Cowes RNLI lifeboat and Gosport and Fareham SSRO lifeboat were launched. Coastguard Helicopter Rescue104 was diverted from a medical evacuation to the scene and winched the sole crewman onboard prior to the arrival of the lifeboats. The Colette, a fellow fishing vessel responded to the Coastguard broadcast and headed to the location of the sinking boat.

The skipper of the Sea Raider was taken to Newport helicopter landing site and transferred by ambulance to St Marys hospital suffering from exposure. Both lifeboats were employed recovering wreckage and returned to their stations at just before 1am.

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