Tragic Rescue Attempt in Dover Straits Ends in Death of Cargo Ship Captain
A dramatic rescue mission unfolded in the busy Dover Straits shipping lanes on Thursday night – but, heartbreakingly, the captain of a Sierra Leone-registered cargo ship could not be saved.
Mayday Call Sparks Coastguard and RNLI Lifeboat Response
The distress call came just after 10:40pm from an 88-metre-long, 14-metre-wide vessel weighing approximately 2,430 tonnes. The cargo ship, which had left Estonia on February 22 bound for Damietta, Egypt, was sailing through the perilous waters near Dungeness when disaster struck.
Helicopter Paramedic Winched Onboard Amid Darkness
The coastguard rescue helicopter Rescue163 from Lydd scrambled to the scene, alongside the RNLI Dungeness lifeboat. A paramedic was winched onto the ship’s deck in pitch black to deliver urgent life-saving treatment.
Crew onboard found the 65-year-old captain collapsed on the bridge, with no heartbeat and not breathing. The first mate took immediate action, performing CPR while the six other crew members prepared the ship for the emergency rescue.
Captain Pronounced Dead Despite Heroic Efforts
Despite continuous CPR and medical assistance, the captain tragically died onboard. The heroic rescue attempt highlights the dangers faced by seafarers navigating these busy shipping lanes.
