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Eastern 058/01
24 April 2001
FISHERMEN FOUND AS
FISHING VESSEL SINKS OFF WHITBY
Tyne Tees
Coastguard co-ordinated an incident on 24 April 2001 in which
two fishermen were plucked from the sea, apparently several miles
from where their fishing vessel sank.
The incident began at 7.00 am when the Emergency Positioning
Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board the fishing vessel 'Crimond
II', a Scarborough registered vessel, went off, sending a message
via satellite that the vessel had sunk. The EPIRB indicated that
the vessel had gone down 25 miles north east of Whitby. |
"EPIRBS
are excellent
for giving a rough guide
as to where a vessel may have
sank and the positions which were
given by the EPIRB were within the
parameters which are set." |
RAF
Kinloss reported that the EPIRB was activated to HM Coastguard and
a rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield was scrambled. A new
position from the EPIRB was then given as being 30 miles off
Scarborough and the helicopter changed its course towards the new
position. The new position was 25 miles to the south east of the
first position. As the helicopter was flying to the new position
it spotted two objects in the water and on investigation, they
were found to be the two fishermen. They were around 5 miles south
of the first position given by the EPIRB. The two were winched
into the helicopter and airlifted to Royal Hull Infimary suffering
with hypothermia.
Tyne Tees Coastguard Watch Manager Peter Kirkman said, "These
two fishermen were very lucky to have been found by the
helicopter. Conditions for searching were by no means ideal, with
mist, fog, and a southeasterly force 3 with slight sea and swell.
EPIRBS are excellent for giving a rough guide as to where a vessel
may have sank and the positions which were given by the EPIRB were
within the parameters which are set." |
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