Southern 065/00
21 December 2000
MAN SAVED FROM RIVER
Brixham Coastguard was alerted by Police at 11:13 p.m. on
20 December 2000 to a young man who was seen drifting in the water at
Exmouth Dock.
As he drifted into the River, he was thrown a torpedo lifebuoy by passers
by who were loosing sight of him in the darkness.
Coastguard tasked local Coastguard Rescue Teams and requested the
launch of RNLI inshore lifeboats from Teignmouth and Exmouth along with
the Exmouth all weather lifeboat. A Police helicopter was also on scene.
Rescuers spotted the man alive but cold and distressed at 12:03 a.m. and
he was taken aboard the RNLI boarding boat. The boat took the man to an
awaiting ambulance at Exmouth Dock, from where he was taken to a local
hospital.
Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager Alf Tupper commented, "Given the
dark night and the incoming tide this was a life threatening situation
which the rescue units responding quickly brought to a successful
conclusion."
Weather on scene was force 3 to 4 southeasterly winds with good
visibility.
