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The Guernsey and Alderney coastguards, Channel Islands Air Search and the Alderney Lifeboat joined a French Navy helicopter and a French Lifeboat in the successful rescue of a sailor in difficulty two miles northeast of Alderney early this morning.
Shortly after midnight, on 10 September, the Guernsey Coastguard received a call from the MRCC Jobourg (French Coastguard) asking for assistance.
Pictured: Les Casquets lighthouse, off Alderney.
A mayday call had been taken from a 13-metre sailing vessel with just the skipper on board which was two miles northeast of Alderney. The skipper of the French said he thought he had broken his shoulder.
Following that initial call all communication with the casualty was lost.
The French Coastguard had already paged a French Navy helicopter and the French Lifeboat “Mona Rigolet” but it needed further assistance from the Guernsey Coastguard and Alderney Coastguard who devised a search plan. That involved the Channel Island Airsearch and the Alderney Lifeboat crews being called to action.
Pictured: Airsearch 1 during the 2020 Guernsey Air Display.
In a statement issued this morning, Search Mission Co-ordinator James Way explained the initial intention was for both units to search the area around the Casquets Lighthouse as there were fears that the vessel may have grounded due to the strong southwesterly flowing tidal stream.
Airsearch 1 was airborne at 00:58 and "quickly located a vessel matching the casualty’s description 1.5 miles southwest of Casquets".
The French Navy helicopter arrived on the scene shortly after and was able to winch a crewman onto the sailing vessel (pictured top).
The Alderney Lifeboat arrived on scene at 01:39, while Airsearch 1 remained airborne to provide top cover.
Once the casualty had been stabilised, the coastguards said the decision was made to transfer him to the Mona Rigolet to provide a stable platform to winch him into the helicopter. He has since been transferred to a Cherbourg hospital while the Mona Rigolet towed the stricken vessel back to Cherbourg Harbour.
Pictured: Alderney Lifeboat (image from the Alderney Lifeboat Facebook).
Airsearch 1 and Alderney Lifeboat were both stood down shortly after 02:40 having provided further support.
Search Mission Coordinator James Way said this showed the "excellent working relationship" between all parties involved.
“We are delighted that the casualty vessel was located, and the injured crewman winched to safety. Incidents like this demonstrate the excellent working relationship Guernsey Coastguard has with our French counterparts as well as the interoperability between our search and rescue units”.
Pictured top: Image captured from aboard Airsearch 1 during winch operations between the French Navy helicopter and the Mona Rigolet (Photo Credit: Channel Islands Airsearch).
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