Cowes RNLI rescue man overboard during Round the Island powerboat race
On Saturday 16 May, crew from Cowes RNLI responded to a mayday call and rescued a man that had been struck by his vessel’s boom and fallen in the water.
The Cowes RNLI crew launched their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat, the Sheena Louise, at 11.30am on Saturday morning to patrol the Round the Island powerboat race. At 1pm, as the crew began to head towards the eastern Solent, a pan-pan was heard over the radio. An elderly gentleman had been sailing when he was hit by the boat’s boom and found himself in the water, and his crew had not been able to recover him. Soon, the pan-pan was upgraded to a mayday, signalling the situation had become life-threatening.
The Cowes RNLI crew made best speed to his location and discovered the casualty still in the water and holding on to a rope two of his crew members had secured onto the vessel. The RNLI crew asked for some slack on that rope and so the casualty drifted to a place where the crew of the Sheena Louise could safely recover him on to the lifeboat.
The casualty had been in the water for 20 minutes at this point, and after an assessment of his wellbeing, the decision was made to transfer him back to the RNLI boathouse to warm up. In the meantime, crew from Gosport Lifeboat arrived and escorted the casualty vessel back to Trinity Landing, where the boat's crew could join the casualty, and eventually to their berth in East Cowes marina.
Members of the Ventnor Coastguard team arrived alongside an ambulance, and soon the gentleman was warm and well. He was transported back to East Cowes marina by the Harbour Master, to meet his crew.
Cowes RNLI helm Myles said: “Accidents happen on the water and we are very glad we could be of assistance today. The casualty and the vessel’s crew did everything they could. He was wearing all the correct personal protective equipment, including a lifejacket which inflated when he hit the water, and had the crotch strap attached so the lifejacket stayed on. His crew had a radio on board and called for help when they were unable to recover him, and signaled the urgency of the situation so help could arrive quickly. Thank you to everyone involved.”
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About Cowes RNLI Station
Cowes Lifeboat Station is converted from a former HM Customs Watch House, the rear of which is 300 years old. It looks out onto one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways and carries out a range of interesting services every year. It is the only station to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Sofia Voudouroglou, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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