ANGLING VESSEL SINKS OFF ISLE OF WIGHT

By blacksteff0

Monday, February 08, 2010, 11:48

An angler from Lee On Solent has been rescued from his life raft, after his 25 ft boat sank two miles South West of St Catherines Point on the Isle of Wight.

An angler was rescued from a life raft t after his boat sank two miles South West of St Catherines Point on the Isle of Wight.

 

At 2.40pm Solent Coastguard was contacted on VHF Channel 16 by the single occupant of a small angling boat reporting that he was taking on water and would abandon the vessel to a life raft. Solent Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and requested the launch of Yarmouth RNLI all weather lifeboat. Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were also called out.

The angler launched a red flare as he abandoned the vessel, which was spotted by the offshore patrol vessel Port Of Spain. The Port Of Spain launched a fast response craft and picked up the casualty from the life raft who was uninjured and suffering from shock.

Solent Coastguard Watch Manager, Dave Williams said,

"This man helped to bring about his own speedy rescue by being well prepared for his trip. He had a VHF radio, the right kit including life raft, emergency flares and he was able to give the Coastguard an accurate position".

This shows the importance of always being properly prepared when taking to the sea.

[+] Report abuse