28/04/2003

Four saved after catamaran capsizes

Four sailors, who spent 12 cold hours in the Solent after their catamaran capsized, have been rescued by Coastguard today.

The alarm was raised at around 7.15am, and a short time later all four were retrieved from the water. The casualties – a male skipper, 50, from Dungarn in Ireland, a male crew member (40) and two female crew of 32 years of age – were transferred to an ambulance and taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering from mild hypothermia.

The vessel had refuelled at Gosport yesterday afternoon and was heading for Lymington when she capsized at 8.30pm last night. The crew did not have time to reach any equipment on the boat to raise the alarm but were wearing the correct clothing and equipment, which enabled them to survive for so long overnight in the cold water.

Colin Griffiths, Watch Manager at Solent Coastguard, said: "We are very pleased that the crew were fully kitted out, including two piece foul weather suits, lifejackets and full body harnesses. They were very fortunate because without any protective clothing or buoyancy aids a person is unlikely to survive in the cold water for much longer than two hours."

(GMcG)

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