'Widespread recognition' for search and rescue response

Thursday 31 January 2019

The volunteers and staff who responded when the light aircraft carrying two men disappeared near Les Casquets last week have been praised again, as a privately funded search for Emiliano Sala and his pilot, Dave Ibbotson gets underway alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch enquiries.

Deputy Mary Lowe took the unusual step of making a statement during this month's States meeting to address the emergency response to the 'plane incident' which brought the national spotlight to the Bailiwick last week.

A statement like this hasn't been made in recent years, despite other search and rescue missions being launched by the Bailiwick authorities and charitable organisations.

However, with national and international journalists still in the island, while the Sala family conducts private visits to the areas believed to be close to the search zone, ahead of sonar equipment being deployed to try and find the plane, the Home Affairs President has spoken publicly on the matter.

Deputy Lowe described it as a "desperately sad incident involving the loss of an aircraft with two people on board."

While she did not name the pair, they are known to be pilot Dave Ibbotson and footballer Emiliano Sala. There has been some criticism that the focus of media reports into the search was on Mr Sala rather than Mr Ibbotson, but it is in his name that hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised to resume the search.

Pictured: The gofundme page set up to fund a private search to try and find Emiliano Sala. It has now raised more than £300,000. 

Deputy Lowe acknowledged in her speech yesterday that "the depth of their distress is hard to imagine" as she offered "our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the pilot and his passenger."

She said, as Home Affairs President, and on behalf of the whole of the States, she wanted to thank the staff of the emergency services and various other agencies who were involved in the initial search and the ongoing enquiries.

"In particular there was a tremendous effort by Guernsey and Alderney Coastguard, the Police, the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre, Channel Island Air Search, the Guernsey and Alderney lifeboats, Jersey Coastguard, CROSSMA Jobourg and the UK Coastguard from their National Maritime Operations Centre and Dover," said Deputy Lowe. "These, and other individuals and teams, including the Brecqhou helicopter, worked long and hard to deal with this incident in connection with which there was significant international media interest.

"Although it does not appear the outcome will be what all had initially hoped for, there is widespread recognition that the response of the Bailiwick's rescue and response teams was excellent, many of whom were volunteers working long hours and we thank them all for their time and commitment, as we know most of the volunteers couldn't do this without the support of their employers."

Deputy Lowe said although it has been a difficult and sad time for everyone involved, she hoped that by expressing her thanks it would go some way towards showing appreciation to everyone involved in trying to locate the aircraft with the two people onboard.

Pictured: This statement was released yesterday, after Deputy Lowe had paid tribute to those involved with the search. 

Since Deputy Lowe made her statement yesterday, it's been confirmed that two cushions, believed to be from seats on the light aircraft the two men were flying in, have washed up on the French coast.