 |
Southern 140/01
15 August 2001
COASTGUARD ALERTED TO CHILDREN IN DIFFICULTY
| Solent Coastguard
received an urgent 999 call from a mobile phone at 11:30 a.m. on
15 August 2001 from a grandfather who whilst out playing with
his grandson and friend had discovered that one of the children
had not come out of the water. The man reported to the
Coastguard that the three people were located at the top of
Chichester Harbour at Thorney Island by Prinstead near Thornham
Marina. |
Coastguard rescue
helicopter located children
|
Solent
Coastguard immediately scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter
`India Juliet'; and alerted the Hampshire Police. The two Hayling
RNLI lifeboats were both launched and the Hayling Coastguard
Rescue Team were sent to the area. The Chichester Harbour Master's
Patrol Launch was also on scene.
The crew of the rescue helicopter immediately went to the shingle
bank and recovered one child and an attendant adult to the
helicopter. They then took off and quickly located the lost child
in the water. All three were airlifted to the landing site at the
Queen Alexander Hospital in Cosham.
One child remains hypothermic whilst the other is in need of more
serious treatment. The grandfather and parents were taken to the
hospital with the Police.
Bob Knox, Watch Manager Solent Coastguard said: "The
Chichester Harbour patrol launch was also able to help by pulling
a further adult from the water who had attempted to reach the
child. Fortunately the weather has been kind today with blue
skies, hazy visibility and slight westerly winds, which has
created a slight sea.
"The water was approaching low tide at the time of the
incident, but it is a timely reminder that hypothermia can occur
during the best of weathers. We ask all parents to keep an eye on
their children and to ensure that the ground is firm beneath their
feet as slippery and sticky mud can quickly drag you down." |
|
|
