This in from the coastguard – Ed
An angler was rescued from a life raft this afternoon, after his boat sank two miles South West of St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight.
At 2.40pm Solent Coastguard was contacted on VHF Channel 16 by the single occupant of a small angling boat reporting that he was taking on water and would abandon the vessel to a life raft. Solent Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and requested the launch of Yarmouth RNLI all weather lifeboat. Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were also called out.
The angler launched a red flare as he abandoned the vessel, which was spotted by the offshore patrol vessel Port Of Spain. The Port Of Spain launched a fast response craft and picked up the casualty from the life raft who was uninjured and suffering from shock. The man will be transferred to Portsmouth this evening.
The 25 foot angling boat has sunk. The man is from Lee On Solent.
Solent Coastguard Watch Manager, Dave Williams said,
“This man helped to bring about his own speedy rescue by being well prepared for his trip. He had a VHF radio, the right kit including life raft, emergency flares and he was able to give the Coastguard an accurate position.”
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Looks like this might have been the vessel involved – the Port Of Spain
