Man in water uses flare and is rescued by ferry crew

01/08/2023

A man in the water off Fishbourne, UK, whose dinghy overturned, used a flare to alert rescuers.

As a result, he was seen and pulled out of the water by Rebel Marine rescuers within minutes.

The incident happened one afternoon in July when Rebel Lander crew picked up a Mayday broadcast on VHF Channel 16. The Wightlink Ferry had spotted the man in the water off the entrance to Wootton Creek clinging to an upturned dinghy and told the coastguard.

Three Rebel Marine crew members arrived on the scene in less than three minutes, pulled the person onboard and checked their condition. Two Wightlink Ferries vessels, St Clare and Victoria of Wight had launched rescue boats to assist.

The casualty was taken to the yacht club pontoon and explained that he had been in the water for 20 minutes and had let off a flare to attract attention. The man was then handed into the care of Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team.

A Rebel Marine spokesperson thanked Wightlink Isle of Wight ferries for helping and also Royal Victoria Yacht Club for letting the casualty keep warm in its clubhouse.

“This was the first time the landing door on Rebel Lander had been ‘used in anger’ to recover a casualty out of the water. Our crews regularly practice with a MOB dummy in the event of a real man overboard.”

A Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team spokesperson says, “I have no doubt that the collaborative working of Wightlink and Rebel Marine saved this casualty’s life. Well done, great job.”

Source: Rebel Marine, Facebook.