Alderney RNLI launched to rescue two fishermen from sinking fishing boat
Alderney’s RNLI Relief Lifeboat ‘Corinne Whiteley’ was called to the rescue of two locally based fishermen whose fishing vessel had sunk approximately 200 metres from the shoreline at Chateau a L’Etoc, on the North coast of Alderney.
The all-weather lifeboat was launched at 7.19am this morning (Monday 25 July), with the boarding boat under escort after Guernsey Coastguard had received a 999 call from the skipper of the fishing vessel. Both lifeboats were on scene at 7.25am, where the two fishermen, both wearing lifejackets were seen sat on the nearby Grois rocks.
The boarding boat with two crew members on board proceeded to assist the stranded fishermen. Having safely boarded the boat at 7.32am they were then transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and returned to Braye Harbour at 7.37am to be greeted by relieved family members, who had been waiting in great anticipation of their return to shore and seeing them both safe and well.
The coxswain of the Alderney Lifeboat, Declan Gaudion said: ‘The fishing vessel sank extremely quickly with the two fishermen having to swim 30 metres to safety. It was fortunate that the incident happened so close to an outcrop of rocks that they were able to reach and that both crewmen were wearing lifejackets which proved to be essential in the strong tidal passage.'
The skipper/owner of the fishing vessel said ‘We started rapidly taking on water and started to sink, we quickly jumped into the water and swam to the nearby rocks, fortunately we were able to make a 999 call in time to call for assistance from the Alderney Lifeboat.’
A possible salvage operation is being discussed with the Alderney Harbour Authority and Skipper.
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