|
Missing Divers ( 01 - 09 ) |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 25 January 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat paged at 12:07 on 25/01/09
Largs RNLI lifeboat launched following a report of two divers missing whilst diving the wreck of the Kintyre off Wemyss Bay. This report originated from a third member of the diving party who had managed to regain the shore.
Largs RNLI lifeboat arrived on scene at approximately 12.25pm and immediately commenced a search of the area, weather being southwest force 7 (near gale), sleet showers and poor visibility. Rescue 177, Royal Navy Seaking Helicopter from HMS Gannet, arrived on scene to search with the lifeboat.
The two divers were spotted, some distance apart being blown toward a rocky shoreline. As the lifeboat approached the crew could only see one diver in the water. Concerned that the other one would be just below the surface the lifeboat asked R177 to recover the diver(s). At that moment the other diver became visual and the lifeboat proceed to pick up the further off shore diver. Rescue 177 dropped his winch man to other diver who was then dragged to the shoreline on the end of the wire.
Meanwhile the lifeboat had secured the second diver alongside. This had to be done using a heaving line down wind as the lifeboat was unable to recover him in the preferred head to sea position in the large waves and proximity of the shore/shallow water. The lifeboat crew experienced severe difficulty in lifting him into the lifeboat due to the weight of the diver’s gear. The divers were using re-breathers and could not easily or would not ditch their gear.
Eventually the crew managed to get the diver’s kit off him and get him into the lifeboat by deflating the sponson. The lifeboat now proceeded out to sea away from the shore line. He was checked over and due to conditions decided only safe place to land him was in Inverkip Marina. The casualty was handed over to Ambulance personnel.
The lifeboat then returned to Largs RNLI lifeboat station, was refuelled, washed down and rehoused.
|
|
|
Red Flare Sighting ( 37 / 08 ) |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Friday, 02 January 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat Paged at 00:02 on 23/12/08
Largs lifeboat requested to launch after the local coastguard operations room were contacted by a member of the public who had said that they spotted a red flare in the vacinity of Skelmorlie. Once on scene the lifeboat searched for approximately an hour with nothing found. The lifeboat was then contacted by the CG ops room who stated that the local Police who had been searching inland had found an empty red flare casing. The lifeboat was then released and allowed to return to station. |
|
|
Rapid Ascent Divers ( 36 / 08 ) |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Friday, 02 January 2009 |
Largs Lifeboat Paged at 12:14 on 13/12/08
Largs lifeboat requested to attend dive boat Clutha who had 2 divers that had made a rapid ascent from the of the Beagle some 3 miles west of the boathouse. On arrival both divers were transfered onto the lifeboat which then made best speed to the Recompression chamber on Cumbrae, both drivers were handed over to the chamber staff and the lifeboat then returned to station. |
|
|