Sailor left dangling in rough seas

9:07am Friday 25th July 2008

A SAILOR was left dangling from the side of his vessel for more than an hour in rough seas off the Dorset coast.

The man, aged 62, became entangled in a line and dragged overboard, sustaining serious injuries.

Coastguards said the man's wife, who was on board with him, radioed for help after they got into difficulties off Anvil Point last night.

The coastguards' spokesman said the sailor had lost his footing in lumpy' conditions on a wet deck and went overboard just after 8pm, badly injuring his nose and leg.

The sailor had also become entangled in a line and remained dangling over the side of the vessel out of the reach of his wife.

After taking advice from her husband, the woman called for help and the Swanage lifeboat and Portland coastguard helicopter were scrambled.

The spokesman said that by 9pm the man was still in the water but was in a good state' despite being uncomfortable.

A decision was taken by lifesaving crews after arriving at the scene to escort the 30-foot gaff cutter, named Corncockle, back to Poole Harbour with the couple on board.

The spokesman said the couple, who are from Farnham and were returning to Gosport harbour, were then taken to hospital by ambulance, where the manwas treated for head injuries and hypothermia.

Elsewhere in the county, coastguards were alerted to two teenagers on anchored rafts off Greenhill, Weymouth.

A coastguards spokesman said one onlooker was concerned because it was getting dark and they were not wearing wetsuits.

The teens had swum ashore safely by the time coastguards arrived and were given safety advice.

At Charmouth, coastguards from Lyme Regis were scrambled to reports of a child stuck in mud.

By the time rescuers arrived, the boy, who was stuck up to his chest, had been rescued by a member of the public.

Lyme Regis coastguards and the inshore lifeboat also helped find a boy aged 10 who had gone missing in Charmouth and reunited him with his family.

At Lyme Bay, the yacht Isis suffered a rigging failure and was monitored by coastguards until making it to safety.