Major rescue as fishing boat gets stranded in storm coastguard helicopter airlifts crew to safety.
Penlee and Sennen lifeboats both returned to Newlyn this morning - the weather being to rough at Sennen to allow the lifeboat to be retrieved.
Video courtesy of MCA/SAR crew from Newquay.
Six crew from a fishing vessel in distress have been airlifted from their disabled vessel off Lands End in atrocious weather conditions over night.The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.
Speaking after this morning's incredible rescue, Captain Sharky Finn from Newquay Coastguard helicopter said: 'This is definitely one of the most challenging jobs we’ve seen at Newquay. We were flying into a Force 8 gale with 20ft high waves swirling beneath us and we could clearly see the fishing vessel disappearing beneath the swell as we approached.
'We had the support of RNLI Sennen Cove on scene who had tried to establish a tow line but were unable to do so because of the severe weather conditions.
'We tried a variety of different winching positions as the fishing vessel pitched and rolled violently underneath us before lowering a hi-line and then our winchman to the bow. The only way we could do this was turn the helicopter 90 degrees out of winds which meant we were effectively flying sideways. Needless to say, it was very challenging deck; it stretched the capabilities of both the crew and the aircraft. However, despite this pressure we were able to take our time and safely recovered all six crewmates and our winchman to the aircraft before returning to the Newquay base. We’re grateful for the support of the Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team and the Newlyn Seaman’s Mission who met us when we returned.'
The trawler had been fishing north of the Scillys when her main engine failed...
she drifted SSE after the crew had dropped her trawl on the seabed to anchor her some 8 miles west of Pendeen...
both Sennen and Penlee lifeboats were paged around 3am this morning to assist after the crew were airlifted off by helicopter...
the trawler is now being monitored by the MCA and coastguard as she drifts, abandoned, slowly south in heavy seas...
another French trawle, Alf stopped by briefly on her way steaming northwards.
The MCA reported the story early this morning:
HM Coastguard was alerted at around 10pm on Tuesday night to the 24 metre French registered fishing vessel, La Fanette which had suffered engine failure. Another fishing vessel went to assist and HM Coastguard requested the launch of Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat. Despite atrocious weather, Sennen Cove Lifeboat launched but due to 5-6 metre waves on scene and storm force winds, it was impossible for either the fishing vessel or the lifeboat to establish a tow with La Fanette. Penlee RNLI all weather lifeboat also attended.
The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.
Penlee lifeboat Crew - Coxswain Patch Harvey, Mechanic Tony Rendle, David Pascoe, Ben Keogh, Andrew Wood, Jack Shannon, and Dan Sell.
"Six crew from a fishing vessel in distress have been airlifted from their disabled vessel off Lands End in atrocious weather conditions over night.
"HM Coastguard was alerted at around 10pm on Tuesday night to the 24m French registered fishing vessel, La Fanette, which had suffered engine failure.
"Another fishing vessel went to assist and HM Coastguard requested the launch of Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat.
This video was shot aboard the vessel some 5 years ago. She was built in 2012 by Socarenam for Armament Quirat Porcher-Lemaitre
The Fanette is now under tow from a sistership Faradet...
and expected to rendevous with the French tug Kermor around midnight tonight.