Topper sailor rescued off Beesands

An elderly local sailor capsized in his Topper half a mile off Beesands and was unable to get back on board. He was spotted by two S Devon College Training yachts, Endeavour and Aspiration. He and his craft were taken on board the Endeavour, skippered by Ian Mills. He had been in the water for some 15 minutes and was very cold. The Dart inshore lifeboat was tasked by the Coast Guard to assess the situation and took Haydn Glanville, their Paramedic crew-man. Although the Coast Guard helicopter was on exercise in the area its services were not required. The sailor was given a change of clothing and brought back by Endeavour to Dartmouth where he was assessed at the local Cottage Hospital. Lifeboat crew; Squiff Howitt Helmsman. Haydn Glanville and Kevin John crew. Lanch crew Jim Brent Tractor driver.