None was wearing lifejackets
Falmouth Coastguard this afternoon coordinated the rescue of a seven people from the water off Port Issac.
All seven were the crew of a gig that was unable to get back in to Port Issac harbour because of the swell caused by a low spring tide. The Port Issac RNLI Inshore Lifeboat (ILB), which was training in the area, spotted that the gig had got into difficulties and held on to it to stop it being taken further out.
None of the gig crew were wearing lifejackets and were only dressed in t-shirts. To protect them Port Issac ILB took lifejackets and warm clothing to them from the RNLI boathouse.
Port Issac Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked to monitor the situation from the harbour. Unfortunately with the swell running the gig capsized throwing all seven crew into the water. All were quickly picked up by the ILB but with now nine onboard it was unable to get back in the harbour. Five of the gig crew were transferred to the RNLI Padstow All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) suffering shock, cold and some minor injuries. They were then taken to Treliske hospital by Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter 193 from Culdrose.
The remaining two crew members of the crew were safely transferred to back to Port Issac the ILB.
Watch Manager Terry Collins said:
This incident shows how quickly a seemingly simple situation can become a life threatening one that could have been avoided if prior thought had been given to the sea state and tide conditions.
Source: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
