Dramatic moment coastguard attempts to save skipper’s life as yacht is thrown around by powerful waves
This is the dramatic moment a coastguard helicopter rescue team tried to save a skipper in peril as his yacht was thrown around by powerful waves.
The National Coastwatch Institution volunteers spotted the small vessel in trouble close to the shore at Newhaven in East Sussex during a period of strong winds and rough tides on the south coast.
The yacht was being battered by the sea and pushed closer to the harbour wall, with waves crashing over the cockpit and the skipper deemed unreachable by lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Team..
The team on board Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 163 which is based along the coast at Lydd in Kent therefore went into the air to see if they could save his life.
The mission features in the first episode of a new third series of Channel 5 documentary Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS which begins at 9pm tomorrow.
A clip of the moment was shared exclusively with the Daily Mail and producers said it showed ‘one of the most daring and frightening rescues in recent memory’.
A yacht is seen being thrown around by waves off the coast of Newhaven in East Sussex
People gather to watch on the shore as the rescue helicopter hovers over the yacht (top left)
Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 163 was dispatched in an attempt to save the man’s life
In the video, a crew member can be heard saying: ‘We need to give this guy some help, he’s getting hammered. We’re literally the only people who can get him.’
As the boat is thrown around by waves and people gather to watch on the shore, a rescuer adds: ‘Monitor for big waves, because he’s going to go any second.’
A huge wave then hits the boat, almost capsizing it, and one of the team is heard saying: ‘There we go, oh, that’s him. Okay, let’s go in closer please.’
The winch paramedic says: ‘Roger that, he’s getting out.’ But his colleague warns: ‘He’s not – if he comes off there Chris, he’s going to die.’
Although not shown in the preview clip, the full episode tomorrow will show the skipper eventually being winched to safety along with the winch paramedic.
The skipper sustained multiple injuries with several broken bones was admitted to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton before being discharged.
A huge wave is shown hitting the boat, almost capsizing it as the rescue team move closer in
The skipper is shown on board the yacht as the winch paramedic makes his way down to him
The documentary follows the work of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as they respond to emergencies, coordinate search and rescue missions, inspect vessels, and investigate incidents to keep people safe at sea
The first episode also features a coastguard fixed wing surveillance flight using sophisticated camera technology to look into potential sources of marine pollution.
In another segment, an 86-year-old passenger is rescued from a commercial ferry in the Irish sea after suffering severe bleeding, which could turn life threatening.
A rescue helicopter is sent to meet the ferry at sea and attempt to winch the ill passenger off the boat.
Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS airs on Channel 5 at 9pm tomorrow night
