Three Teenagers Rescued Near Poole Harbour
At one o'clock this afternoon, Portland Coastguard received a number of 999 calls, and additional calls from yachts in Studland, outside Poole Harbour, to report that three teenagers were in the water, having been thrown from their boat which was still dangerously racing around in circles with no one on board.
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Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 106 was tasked from Portland, Swanage Coastguard Rescue Officers were called out and the Poole RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was requested to launch. Several yachts on scene managed to keep Portland Coastguard up to date with developments and one yacht Ruffian managed to rescue one of the teenagers from the water.
The remaining two managed to swim ashore to different locations, one was assisted by Swanage Coastguard and the other airlifted by the Rescue Helicopter to Poole General Hospital suffering from cuts and bruises and hypothermia.
The inshore lifeboat managed to catch and stop the RHIB and towed it ashore to meet the owners.
The inshore lifeboat then towed the teenagers and their boat back into Poole as the boat had run out of fuel. They were met by Poole Coastguard Rescue Officers who provided some safety advice, not least the appropriate use off kill cords.
Bruce Lack, Watch Manager, Portland Coastguard said:
"A kill cord is an essential piece of safety equipment that can be found on all modern personal water craft and motor boats. It is useless unless worn and the recommended use is to wear around the thigh of the driver.
Older outboard engines can be retro-fitted with a kill cord very simply and easily.
It is recommended to fit one and use it. It may help save your life, in an emergency."
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