Man Overboard

Launch No: 287
Craft: Spirit of the Dart. D-702
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Location: River Dart, Dittisham
Photo: Riki Bannister

The RNLI Dart inshore lifeboat received a request from Solent Coastguard to answer a Mayday call at 12.30pm. 

A "man overboard" had been reported near the Flat Owers, Dittisham. This occurred when a yachtsman had been transferring from his 32ft Condor yacht to his tender. Fortunately the lifeboat was already on the water and her crew were taking part in their annual fundraising campaign in the Boat Float, Dartmouth. The crew responded immediately, reaching the casualty eight minutes later.

On arrival at the scene the lifeboat crew found the casualty had been taken from the water by the crew of the Farries Flyer, a 7m Dart Sailability vessel with disabled people on board. The Farries Flyer had put out the Mayday call when they heard cries for help and found the yachtsman hanging off the stern of his yacht.

In view of the number of disabled people on the vessel the casualty was transferred to the Dittisham Ferry and then to the lifeboat where his condition was assessed. He was fine and was taken by the lifeboat to Dittisham Pontoon where he was met by his family.

This rescue by the Dart Sailability vessel just goes to show how essential it is to always wear a lifejacket when transferring from vessel to vessel and when going ashore.

Time

Lifeboat underway at time of request.

Request Received 12:30pm
Time at incident Deprecated: Implicit conversion from float 17684795.645833332 to int loses precision in /home/dartlifeboatorg/public_html/launches-detail.php (line 272) Deprecated: Implicit conversion from float 1061087738.75 to int loses precision in /home/dartlifeboatorg/public_html/launches-detail.php (line 273) 11 hour, 38 minutes

Conditions

Sea/River State River Calm
Wind Direction West-Southwest
Wind Strength 15 knots

Lifeboat Crew

Rich Eggleton (Helm)
Katy Sarah
Dean Nettleton

Shore Crew

Mick Jones (Tractor Driver)
Rob Clements
Paul Manley

Deputy Launch Authority

Station address

RNLI Dart Lifeboat Station
Coronation Park
North Embankment
Dartmouth
Devon TQ6 9RR

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RNLI Visitor Centre
9 South Embankment (Ground Floor)
Dartmouth
Devon TQ6 9BH

Visitor Centre phone number

01803 832423

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