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Eastern 061/01
2 May 2001
COASTGUARD RUSH AID TO AID SINKING YACHT
| Thames Coastguard
was alerted at just before 1:30 a.m. on 2 May 2001 by the
32-foot-yacht `Old Spice' with 4 people on board reporting they
had gone aground on Long Sand Head, 12 miles off Walton-On-Thames.
The mayday from the vessel, which was heading to Dover from
Ipswich, said that she was taking water and sinking.
Communications with the Coastguard then broke up.
Several vessels locally also heard the mayday and others
responded with offers of help after the Coastguard relayed the
mayday into the area looking for assistance.
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'Brittannia Beaver'
The crew of a
dredger, 'Britannia Beaver'
nearby to the stricken vessel, reported
that they could see the yacht in confused
seas near the Sunk Anchorage.
Volker
Dredging Limited |
Coastguard
scrambled a rescue helicopter - R 125 - from RAF Wattisham and
requested the launch of the Walton Lifeboat.
The crew of a dredger, 'Britannia Beaver' nearby to the stricken
vessel, reported that they could see the yacht in confused seas near
the Sunk Anchorage, a pickup point for pilots, and, a Harwich pilot
boat who also responded to the emergency call, reported to the
Coastguard that the vessel was in amongst the surf, and that she
could not get in any closer to assist.
Once the helicopter arrived on scene they reported difficulties in
lowering a winchman to the yacht due to the rough and confused sea
conditions in the darkness. However at the same time red hand flares
were sighted south of the given position after the crew on board the
yacht abandoned to a liferaft.
Frank Hart, Watch Manager at Thames Coastguard said, " The
helicopter then switched its position to begin winching the crew
aboard once it had identified the location of the liferaft and all
four middle aged male crewmembers were then taken off the liferaft
and deposited back to dry land here at the Coastguard Station at
Walton. He added, "The Walton lifeboat is presently on scene
endeavouring to get a line on the abandoned vessel in order to bring
her under tow back to port".
An Ambulance was called for one crewmember that was showing signs of
hypothermia. He was taken to Colchester Hospital for further
assessment.
Weather conditions on scene were northeasterly winds force 4 to 5
with a moderate sea.
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