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Scotland & NI 150/01
25 May 2001
PASSING COASTGUARD SPOTS MEN ABANDONING VESSEL
Shetland
Coastguard were alerted at 7:30 a.m. on 25 May 2001 by
Brian Wilson, an off duty Coastguard on Fair Isle, when he
spotted emergency red flares to the south of the Isle. On
further investigation Brian saw two men off the coast
getting into a life raft.
The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 'Oscar Charlie' was
scrambled and the RNLI lifeboats from Lerwick and Kirkwall
were requested to launch. |
Shetland Coastguard
MRSC
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'Oscar
Charlie' soon spotted the father and son and airlifted them to
Gilbert Bain hospital in Lerwick where they were said to be
cold, wet, and suffering from hypothermia.
The two men had purchased a Buckie registered under 12 metre
fishing vessel, 'Kedana 111' and were taking it home to
Shetland when the incident happened.
Shetland Coastguard Watch Officer, Lynne Smith said of the
rescue, "Father and son were very fortunate here, the
vigilant action of Brian gave us a very accurate details and
we were able to rescue the two men very quickly.
"The area where they got into difficulties is quite
remote and if their flares had not been spotted by Brian they
would soon have found themselves blown out to sea on the south
easterly force 6 winds and we may not have been alerted to
their situation." |
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