Ferry passenger leaps into the sea.

Full Team Page - Wednesday 1:15am.

So what were the Swanage Coastguard team up to at 1:10am?....well at this time we were all tucked up in our nice warm beds, asleep.

Five minutes later and a full team page was instigated; the tasking – the search and rescue of a number of persons believed to have jumped off the ‘Barfleur’ Cross Channel Ferry into the sea. The Poole Coastguard Team, East Dorset Sector Manager, and Rescue Helicopter 104 were also tasked, along with the RNLI Swanage Lifeboat and Poole Lifeboat.

At the time of tasking a foreign national had been found on the Studland Chain Ferry, it was apparent that he had been in the sea. The person was taken to hospital and subsequently arrested by Police.

Throughout the night the information changed rapidly and it would be fair to say that given the appalling conditions we considered that the chances of survival of any persons in the sea were low. The strong tides in the area also meant that the area of search was extensive and over time this area increased. After an exhaustive search of the shoreline from South Beach, Studland to the Chain Ferry, the Swanage Team regrouped at the Coastguard Station ready for a ‘first light’ search.

At around 5.30pm we were advised that the picture had become slightly clearer with regard the number of persons involved and the teams were stood down.Readers will understand that due to operational reasons we are unable at this stage to report all the details. Perhaps more later.



MCA - News
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=0E8F2D6129838729&m=11&y=2009

Other News sites.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8377898.stm

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4758157.Men_jump_off_Poole_ferry/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigrants-jump-from-ferry-in-bid-to-enter-uk-1827108.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230766/Massive-search-illegal-immigrant-jumps-Channel-ferry-arriving-UK-storm.html