Sailor in Lifejacket Rescued From Sea

Saturday, August 22, 2009
Posted 12:33 GMT

A sailor was rescued from the sea at Instow after falling between his tender and his moored boat and spending 20 minutes in the water. Fortunately he was wearing a lifejacket which kept him afloat until a lifeboat and a helicopter reached him.

At 9.30am Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call reporting that a man had gone into the water off his mooring near Instow Beach and was clinging to the side of the boat but unable to get out of the water. Swansea Coastguard immediately requested the Appledore RNLI inshore lifeboat and Rescue Helicopter 169 from RAF Chivenor and Instow Coastguard Rescue Team and the ambulance service.

The first informant was kept on the phone line to Swansea Coastguard to keep a watch on the casualty and both the Rescue helicopter and lifeboat arrived on scene at the same time. Crew from the lifeboat took him out of the water and transferred him to shore and he was then transferred to North Devon District Hospital to be checked over. The man is reported to be from the local area and 50 years old.
Steve Jones, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager said,

We are happy with the successful rescue of this man today and wearing a lifejacket has proved again to be so vital. The conditions were quite benign to day but once you spend more than a few minutes in cold water, tiredness and hypothermia can take effect and you will struggle to keep yourself afloat.

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