The team were tasked last night to a jet ski which had broken down off Old Harry and which was starting to sink.
The rider who had been in the sea for approximately 30 minutes attracted the attention of a group of picnickers on the top of the cliff who called for help.
Swanage ILB was launched and the coastguard team monitored the rescue from above as well as checking the welfare of the picnickers who were potentially distressed at what they had seen.
The ILB crew tried to tow the jet ski back to its hire base in Salterns Marina in Poole but it was steadily taking on water and so a decision was made to take it into Knoll Beach where it and it's rider were handed over to the care of the coastguard team. Whilst we looked after the rider and got him warmed up, we also liaised with the owners, arranged for them to collect the jet ski from the beach and oversaw the removal operation.
Sadly, it appears the jet ski rider was equipped with a VHF radio, but didn't know how to use it in an emergency. Fortunately for him that the picnickers managed to spot him before it was too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment