MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Press Notice) issued by The
Government News Network on 6 May 2008
At ten past eight
this evening Solent Coastguard received a call from a man
reporting that his son had gone swimming from Worthing beach and
could no longer be seen.
The man, in his early thirties, had been drinking on the beach
with a group of friends when he decided to go for a swim, and was
last sighted swimming out towards a line of marker buoys moored
400 metres offshore.
Solent Coastguard immediately scrambled Coastguard Rescue
Helicopter Mike Uniform, and tasked Shoreham Inshore Lifeboat and
Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene.
The Inshore Lifeboat began a search Eastward of where the man had
last been sighted and came across him soon afterward, recovering
the casualty into the lifeboat and bringing him back to shore.
The helicopter landed on the beach where her on -board paramedic
assessed the casualty and advised that he needed immediate medical
attention. He was subsequently airlifted to Worthing Hospital for treatment.
Solent Coastguard Watch Manager Mike O' Sullivan said:
"This incident provides a stark reminder - once again - that
alcohol and the sea do not mix. Excessive alcohol impairs
judgment and reaction times which can lead to tragic and often
fatal accidents. If it were not for the swift response of the
lifeboat and helicopter, this could easily have ended in tragedy.
Our message is, as always, don't drink and drown."
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk