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Coastguard called into action as Titanic II sinks at West Bay

Titanic II is safely back on the slipway Titanic II is safely back on the slipway

A BOAT called Titanic II lived up to its name when it sank at West Bay.

Mark Wilkinson had to abandon ship when the vessel went down as it returned into the harbour yesterday.

Coastguards and harbourmaster James Radcliffe were called into action to help moor the Titanic II as Mr Wilkinson climbed out of the water.

Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera.

She said: “The guy was in a small cruiser on his own.

“Someone said to me, ‘That boat is sinking’.

“He was coming into the harbour and the back of the boat was going down.

“I shouted at him to jump as the back of the boat went right down and the bow was sticking out of the water.

“He was clinging on to the nose and the tide was taking the boat in. Someone threw a rope and tied it up to the side.

“The harbourmaster came out in a rib and managed to secure it and get it on to the slipway.

“The funny thing about it was that the name of the boat was Titanic II.”

Mrs O’Callaghan recently broke her leg and was in a wheelchair on the West Bay front when the incident happened.

She added: “The guy seemed fine.

“He was a big, beefy man in his 40s.

“He got out and was standing on the side smoking and dripping, trying to get dry.”

Mr Wilkinson, from Birmingham, was at the start of a holiday in Dorset and was going out a trip when the boat began to take on water.

He said: “My thanks go to the coastguards and the harbourmaster for all their help.”

West Bay coastguards attended as the drama unfolded at 10.45am.

The harbourmaster helped Mr Wilkinson lift the boat onto a trailer before it was towed away for repairs.

Portland Coastguard said that Mr Wilkinson was unhurt.

A spokesman said: “We got a 999 call about a boat which was sinking.

“West Bay coastguard officers attended and the harbourmaster was on scene.”

He added that they got a line on the partly sunk boat and secured it to the harbour wall.”

Harbourmaster Mr Radcliffe said that it was believed that an old repair job had come apart and caused the boat to take on water.

Comments(10)

dadadunvarted says...
4:12pm Sun 5 Jun 11

Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera....

...and that is where?

Mabu2 says...
6:36pm Sun 5 Jun 11

It's tiny! A seagul probably landed on the back .

algy says...
6:51pm Sun 5 Jun 11

''Margaret O'callaghan,recently broke her leg''
Whats that got to do with a sinking boat story.

X Old Bill says...
7:14pm Sun 5 Jun 11

dadadunvarted wrote:
Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera....

...and that is where?
It is Bridport - She will have to wait until the Chemist opens on Monday before she can take the film in to be developed, unless they have to wait until she has used all eight frames - Then it could be later in the year.

dadadunvarted says...
9:54pm Sun 5 Jun 11

X Old Bill wrote:
dadadunvarted wrote:
Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera....

...and that is where?
It is Bridport - She will have to wait until the Chemist opens on Monday before she can take the film in to be developed, unless they have to wait until she has used all eight frames - Then it could be later in the year.
Lol. I thought one of those intrepid hardcore Investigative journo's would have been on the case? I mean..it's the Titanic for God's sake :-)

axzl32 says...
10:07am Mon 6 Jun 11

X Old Bill wrote:
dadadunvarted wrote: Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera.... ...and that is where?
It is Bridport - She will have to wait until the Chemist opens on Monday before she can take the film in to be developed, unless they have to wait until she has used all eight frames - Then it could be later in the year.
X Old Bill - film? developed? you need to drag yourself into the present and digital age =(
how is your steam-driven road vehicle.....? *LOL*

Atilla says...
11:15am Mon 6 Jun 11

When the film "Titanic" was first released a young couple came into my local on their way to see it. Naturally the conversation turned to all things Titanic but the young lady was most put out because we had told her how it ended!!

Mabu2 says...
11:21am Mon 6 Jun 11

axzl32 wrote:
X Old Bill wrote:
dadadunvarted wrote: Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera.... ...and that is where?
It is Bridport - She will have to wait until the Chemist opens on Monday before she can take the film in to be developed, unless they have to wait until she has used all eight frames - Then it could be later in the year.
X Old Bill - film? developed? you need to drag yourself into the present and digital age =( how is your steam-driven road vehicle.....? *LOL*
axzl32 I suggest you visit your doctor - you have an Irony Deficiency.

X Old Bill says...
11:26am Mon 6 Jun 11

Mabu2 wrote:
axzl32 wrote:
X Old Bill wrote:
dadadunvarted wrote: Margaret O’Callaghan, from Bridport, saw the boat go down and caught it on camera.... ...and that is where?
It is Bridport - She will have to wait until the Chemist opens on Monday before she can take the film in to be developed, unless they have to wait until she has used all eight frames - Then it could be later in the year.
X Old Bill - film? developed? you need to drag yourself into the present and digital age =( how is your steam-driven road vehicle.....? *LOL*
axzl32 I suggest you visit your doctor - you have an Irony Deficiency.
.....and some fell on stony ground.

etaoin shrdlu says...
2:22am Wed 8 Jun 11

Which leg did Mrs O'Callaghan break, and how? This could be more interesting than some grockle and his amateurish tub. As for digital cameras, they've not yet reached Bridport; the Box Brownie is still the weapon of choice round there.

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