At ten minutes to
five this evening, Holyhead Coastguard were alerted to three
people who had launched a 12 foot white speedboat with a red
stripe called Ring 15 into Bull Bay around an hour previously and
had not returned.
The craft had an outboard engine and was carrying only two
lifejackets for the three people on board. It also possessed no
VHF radio. Two of the people on board were teenagers of 16 years
old and the craft was being driven by the father of one of the
young people.
The local informant told the Coastguard that the craft had
driven out into the bay and ..turned left. The driver of the
vessel had also locked his mobile phone in his car.
No passage plan had been worked out for the vessel and
therefore its whereabouts was unknown. No flares were being
carried on board.
In the subsequent search, two Coastguard Rescue Teams were
turned out; two all weather lifeboats were requested to launch and
one inshore lifeboat was also called upon.
Eventually the people were found after 6.00 pm cold but well,
5 nautical miles from Bull Bay with the weather deteriorating with
squalls and southwesterly winds of 20 – 25 knots. The seas locally
were 1 – 2 metres high.
Barry Priddis, Watch Manager at Holyhead Coastguard said
This is a definite fail. When these three visitors to our
coastline who were on holiday locally were found they were cold
and shivering. There are clearly some basic safety lessons to be
learnt by anyone attempting to do likewise.
Carry some form of communication to alert the Coastguard to
your plight; carry flares to direct a rescue unit to your
position; carry enough lifejackets for you and your passengers.
Wear or stow warm clothing. Carry some form of lighting if it
should get dark. We wish our visitors a very happy holiday – but
please, stay shoreside.
Contacts:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office
Phone: 023 8032 9401
NDS.MCGA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Mark Clark.
Phone: 023 8032 9414
Mobile: 07711 002678
mark.clark@mcga.gov.uk