The Lizard lifeboat was tasked last night (Wednesday) to carry out a search from Black Head on the Lizard Peninsular toward Lizard Point after a fisherman was reported overdue.
Falmouth Coastguard had received a 999 call at around 7pm reporting a man overdue from a fishing trip. The male had launched his small craft from Cadgwith during the early afternoon and had been due back after a couple of hours but when he failed to turn up a friend phoned the Coastguard for assistance.
The Lizard all-weather lifeboat was launched with a volunteer crew of seven, to search from Black Head back toward Lizard Point. Falmouth Coastguard also broadcast a ‘Pan Pan’ call on VHF radio asking for any vessel in the area to assist in the search. A local fishing vessel from Cadgwith ‘Scorpio’ launched and started a search from Cadgwith toward Lizard Point and a Swedish survey vessel ‘Triad’ transiting the area, diverted to search from Black Head back toward Cadgwith.
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| The Triad, now returned to dock at Falmouth was successful in locating the fisherman |
The ‘Triad’ spotted the reflective tape on the missing man’s inflated lifejacket approximately half a mile off Lankidden and were able to lift him onboard before transferring him to the lifeboat, where the crew carried out emergency casualty care until a SAR helicopter from RNAS Culdrose arrived on scene to fly the casualty to Treliske hospital, Truro.
Coxswain Andrew Putt said “We were very encouraged when the casualty was pulled from the water as he was breathing, but we were informed earlier today that he had sadly passed away. We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the man’s wife, family and friends. We would also like to thank both the Scorpio and Triad for their help in the search”.
The lifeboat crew were Coxswain Andrew Putt, 2nd Mechanic Johnny Bray, 3rd Mechanic Steve Tattersall, and crew members Darren Thirlaway, Adam Weston, John Hill and Simon Fayers.
Story courtesy of the Lizard Lifeboat Station