Dramatic Rescue: Fisherman Plunges Overboard in Rough Seas but Survives
A fisherman who fell overboard off the coast of Salcombe early this morning has been heroically rescued after spending a perilous hour in freezing, rough seas. The HM Coastguard Newquay helicopter swooped in to save him 25 nautical miles southeast of Salcombe.
Mayday Call Sparks Massive Search and Rescue
The fishing boat sent out a desperate Mayday call just before 4.45am. The Newquay-based coastguard helicopter raced to the scene alongside Salcombe and Torbay RNLI All Weather Lifeboats. Adding muscle to the search, a French Navy aircraft training nearby and several fishing vessels also answered the call after a Mayday relay from HM Coastguard.
Heroic Crewmates Spot Man in Water
After an intense hour battling 3-4m high waves and chilling 9°C waters, the fisherman’s own crewmates spotted him at 5.45am. The Coastguard helicopter was instantly alerted and winched the shivering man to safety.
Lifejacket Saves Life in Brutal Conditions
HM Coastguard Duty Controller Dai Jones said: “We could not have hoped for a better outcome. Our Coastguard helicopter, a French Navy helicopter, fishing vessels, and the RNLI all searched for an hour in very rough seas.”
“Thankfully, the fisherman was wearing a lifejacket, which no doubt saved his life and helped his crewmates spot him quickly. This simple safety step significantly increased his chances of survival despite the freezing water and horrendous weather.”
“Without the lifejacket, this could have been a very different story. We applaud his actions and wish him a speedy recovery.”
The rescued fisherman was airlifted straight to plymouth/" title="Plymouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Plymouth Hospital. Authorities praise the quick teamwork and safety precautions that turned a tragedy into a lucky escape.
