Lost father and son located at Gorran Haven

Lost father and son located at Gorran Haven

LONDON. August 13, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- At just after six o'clock this morning Brixham Coastguard received a call from Devon and Cornwall Police reporting that a concerned wife had just been in touch with them to say that her husband and son had been out on a late night fishing trip and had not returned home.

The pair, who had left St. Austell in South Cornwall on Monday evening in a 6 foot inflatable dinghy, were expected to return to shore at around midnight but had not arrived.

Brixham Coastguard called Mevagissey Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene and requested the launch of Fowey RNLI Inshore and All Weather Lifeboats. Police also attended.

At twenty to eight this morning, the inflatable and the two casualties were located by Mevagissey Coastguard Rescue Team on an inaccessible beach near Gorran Haven where they had been for most of the night. The two men were recovered by Fowey Inshore Lifeboat and transferred to the waiting ambulance where they were treated for hypothermia.

Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager Zoe Boyne said:

"The two men are being treated for the effects of hypothermia but are otherwise safe and well.

After talking to the two casualties it transpires that they suffered engine failure during their trip and began to drift ashore. They then managed to restart the engine and continue their trip, but the strong winds last night upturned the inflatable and left them in the water. They managed to swim safely to an inaccessible beach where they were trapped overnight. These gentlemen are extremely lucky to be alive after a cold and wet night on the beach.

We would like to remind members of the public to always make sure that you carry appropriate communications devices if you are setting out to sea so that you are able to contact the Coastguard if you find yourself in difficulty. Furthermore, always wear a lifejacket and inform someone ashore of your intentions so that they can dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard if you are overdue."

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