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| NOT SO LUCKY: Geoffrey Drew is thanking the crew of a Weymouth fishing boat for saving him when his boat Be Lucky sank |
A MAN who almost drowned in rough seas off Portland has paid tribute to a Weymouth fishing crew for saving him.
Godfrey Drew, 62, of Upwey said he would have died if it had not been for nearby fishing vessel Rum Runner plucking him from the water.
Mr Drew had been out on a morning fishing trip in his motor boat, unsuitably named Be Lucky.
A wave capsized the vessel and he became trapped inside the cabin under water. Mr Drew cannot swim and was not wearing a lifejacket.
He said: "Rum Runner definitely saved my life. They guys that rescued me on there were fantastic.
"The boat flipped upside down and I couldn't find the door to get out.
"I managed to find a bit of air in the floor but I knew I was drowning.
"Then a total calmness came over me and the panic left me. I did manage to get free and when I surfaced I was greeted with about five boats around me. The relief and joy at seeing them was really beyond words."
Chartered angling boat Wild Frontier also helped at the scene by towing Mr Drew's boat back into Weymouth.
Mr Drew, who has been boating for about 30 years, said: "It was absolutely incredible and I give my sincere thanks to those who saved my life.
"The whole rescue was clockwork, with Dean Lock and crew getting me aboard Rum Runner and Clem Carter and crew on Wild Frontier taking my boat in tow to Weymouth. These guys' help will never be forgotten."
A Portland Coastguard spokesman said Mr Drew was lucky.
Mr Drew also gave his thanks to Prime Motor Yachts, Dan Shuttle, Kingfisher Marine and South Coast Cranes and Divers who helped with the rescue.
10:57am Thursday 28th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: denise, weymouth on 12:16pm Thu 28 Aug 08
I am very glad Mr Drew was saved. BUT although he is a fisherman of 30 yrs it beggers belief that he cant swim and did not have any form of lifejacket on, that Mr Drew is terribly irrisponsible of you as not only did you put your own life in danger you could endanger others too. IF you go out fishing again, please wear a lifejacket.
I am very glad Mr Drew was saved. BUT although he is a fisherman of 30 yrs it beggers belief that he cant swim and did not have any form of lifejacket on, that Mr Drew is terribly irrisponsible of you as not only did you put your own life in danger you could endanger others too. IF you go out fishing again, please wear a lifejacket.
Posted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 7:03pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Have to agree with Denise. He has a boat (and has been on the water for 30 years) yet cannot swim and wasn't wearing any form of lifejacket? I am glad that he is OK, but cannot believe how stupid some people can be. This is typical of a number of people who own boats for leisure purposes- they have boats, yet cannot use them properly and rely on the RNLI (and other kind hearted folk) to save them when they get into trouble. They should introduce a compulsory charge for boat owners that is given to the RNLI for funding. A bit like road tax, but given to the RNLI instead of the Government.
Have to agree with Denise. He has a boat (and has been on the water for 30 years) yet cannot swim and wasn't wearing any form of lifejacket? I am glad that he is OK, but cannot believe how stupid some people can be. This is typical of a number of people who own boats for leisure purposes- they have boats, yet cannot use them properly and rely on the RNLI (and other kind hearted folk) to save them when they get into trouble. They should introduce a compulsory charge for boat owners that is given to the RNLI for funding. A bit like road tax, but given to the RNLI instead of the Government.
Posted by: mac, portland on 7:54pm Thu 28 Aug 08
with a bit of luck his boat will be unrepairable and save a lot of people a lot of trouble ,, stupid or what,,
with a bit of luck his boat will be unrepairable and save a lot of people a lot of trouble ,, stupid or what,,
Posted by: mr.d, weymouth on 10:00am Fri 29 Aug 08
the papers did not tell you that he had anchored incorrectly near the race which caused him to flip over
the papers did not tell you that he had anchored incorrectly near the race which caused him to flip over
Posted by: Dorsetdumpling, Weymouth on 7:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Wow - never fails to amaze me how people in these columns become instant experts on whatever topic they choose to comment upon.
I wonder how many of those involved in the rescue could swim?
It may surprise many (and will probably astonish Denise) how many seafarers don't know how to swim. In the days before the coastguard and inshore rescue facilities made the prospect of being saved before hypothermia set in, many mariners held the view that a quick death from drowning was preferable to a lingering one. Nowadays of course there is a chance of rescue in a survivably short time but - and this is a big but - the advice from sea survival schools is NOT to try to swim but rather to conserve heat and energy and let the lifejacket keep you afloat.
Now of course if you don't have a lifejacket, especially if handling a boat alone, that could sway me into using the 'S' word! But again, recent tragedies at sea highlighted the fact that most professional fishermen never wear lifejackets either. (And Mr Drew would almost certainly never have got out of the submerged cabin with a non-inflatable, or auto inflating lifejacket.
The rescue services would have been at just as much risk looking for him had he been an olympic standard swimmer with a lifejacket.
Personal choice folks - dread the day when this is taken away from us.
Wow - never fails to amaze me how people in these columns become instant experts on whatever topic they choose to comment upon.
I wonder how many of those involved in the rescue could swim?
It may surprise many (and will probably astonish Denise) how many seafarers don't know how to swim. In the days before the coastguard and inshore rescue facilities made the prospect of being saved before hypothermia set in, many mariners held the view that a quick death from drowning was preferable to a lingering one. Nowadays of course there is a chance of rescue in a survivably short time but - and this is a big but - the advice from sea survival schools is NOT to try to swim but rather to conserve heat and energy and let the lifejacket keep you afloat.
Now of course if you don't have a lifejacket, especially if handling a boat alone, that could sway me into using the 'S' word! But again, recent tragedies at sea highlighted the fact that most professional fishermen never wear lifejackets either. (And Mr Drew would almost certainly never have got out of the submerged cabin with a non-inflatable, or auto inflating lifejacket.
The rescue services would have been at just as much risk looking for him had he been an olympic standard swimmer with a lifejacket.
Personal choice folks - dread the day when this is taken away from us.
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