A sailing yacht on a collision course with a shingle bank, with two seasick sailors – one with a head injury – on board, prompted an Isle of Wight emergency response this morning (Wednesday).
Yarmouth RNLI was alerted at 10am and launched quickly onto the choppy sea to aid the sailors, who had come into difficulty four nautical miles south of Hengistbury Head, between Bournemouth and Mudeford.
The lifeboat team arrived on the scene shortly after 10.30am and found the casualty vessel under sail but with the crew onboard struggling to keep it under control.
Due to the strong gusts, the vessel was heading in the direction of a shingle bank.
Two all-weather lifeboat crew members boarded the vessel to assess the situation, discovering that both casualties were struggling with seasickness – causing them to become dehydrated and disorientated.
Following a medical assessment, the decision was made to take them back to Yarmouth Harbour to meet with medical teams, with the person who had also suffered a head injury closely monitored.
Upon arrival, the lifeboat crews and casualty vessel were met by the Needles Coastguard Rescue Team and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules here