Elderly man saved after being knocked off boat into water during race in Solent
Dramatic sea rescue during Solent boat race
A man who was knocked off a boat during a race in the Solent was left clinging to a rope before being saved during a “life-threatening” incident.
Crew from Cowes RNLI responded to a mayday call and rescued the elderly casualty who had been struck by his vessel’s boom and fallen in the water during the Round the Island powerboat race on Saturday May 16.
Cowes RNLI crew deployed their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat, the Sheena Louise, to the incident around 1pm following the emergency call over the radio.
A spokesperson for Cowes RNLI said: “An elderly gentleman had been sailing when he was hit by the boat’s boom and found himself in the water, and his crew had not been able to recover him. Soon, the pan-pan was upgraded to a mayday, signalling the situation had become life-threatening.
“The crew made best speed to his location and discovered the casualty still in the water and holding on to a rope two of his crew members had secured onto the vessel. The RNLI crew asked for some slack on that rope and so the casualty drifted to a place where the crew of the Sheena Louise could safely recover him on to the lifeboat.
“The casualty had been in the water for 20 minutes at this point, and after an assessment of his wellbeing, the decision was made to transfer him back to the RNLI boathouse to warm up. In the meantime, crew from Gosport Lifeboat arrived and escorted the casualty vessel back to Trinity Landing, where the boat's crew could join the casualty, and eventually to their berth in East Cowes marina.”
Members of the Ventnor Coastguard team arrived alongside an ambulance before the man was “warm and well”. He was transported back to East Cowes marina by the Harbour Master to meet his crew.
Cowes RNLI helm Myles said: “Accidents happen on the water and we are very glad we could be of assistance today. The casualty and the vessel’s crew did everything they could.
“He was wearing all the correct personal protective equipment, including a lifejacket which inflated when he hit the water, and had the crotch strap attached so the lifejacket stayed on. His crew had a radio on board and called for help when they were unable to recover him, and signaled the urgency of the situation so help could arrive quickly. Thank you to everyone involved.”