Latest news with #MRCC
North Wales Live
a day ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Gwynedd man said a prayer before jumping into 'churning' sea as boat sank
A Gwynedd sailor said a prayer "not to let me die" and then jumped into the churning sea as his yacht was smashed against rocks at a group of islets off Anglesey. Chris Cowlard's boat was hammered by the conditions at the Skerries and crashed into a submerged rock. The 71-year-old former firefighter from Porthmadog had 40 years of sailing under his belt but this didn't stop him running into a crisis off Anglesey, with his life at serious risk. His eight-metre vessel was soon dismasted, forcing Chris to abandon ship in his lifejacket and wait in the waves for rescue. He was saved by his own forward planning as he was able to broadcast his location with an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) – bought less than three weeks before the incident. This alerted the coastguard and around 30 minutes after entering the sea he was plucked from the waves by an RNLI lifeboat crew from Holyhead. Talking about the incident, he said: 'I had double-checked the chart and there was a course down the inside. I checked again and adjusted for the tide. Then there was a thumping great bang. I knew what was happening immediately. I was being lifted by the waves and dropped. Bang! Bang! The mast went down and over the side.' Having installed his VHF antenna on the stern instead of the now collapsed mast, Chris was able to broadcast a radio mayday as soon as he got into trouble at about 4pm on 24 June, alerting Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Chris added: 'I got a voice at the other end of the radio straightaway, so I had confidence knowing that someone had received the mayday. My training kicked in and I knew what I had to do.' Crucially, Chris could accurately show where he was with his EPIRB, which automatically began signalling his location as soon as it went into the water. With the vessel listing, Chris said: 'A wave washed right through the cockpit and took the EPIRB and liferaft right out. It was obvious I would have to vacate!' He inflated his lifejacket and went into the churning sea, having grabbed his VHF radio from which he was able to hear the rescue efforts. He said: 'I could hear them say they were receiving the EPIRB and it was in a similar position to mine. I just said a quick prayer not to let me die.' Just 30 minutes later – with the cold already setting into his body – Chris was pulled from the sea by the RNLI's inshore lifeboat from Holyhead, directed there by HM Coastguard. He said: 'I didn't even see them come. I felt a bump on my shoulder and then an arm on mine and a voice saying, 'You're alright, mate. We've got you'. A hand came in and I was up and out. 'I was so relieved. The moment I hit the bottom of that lifeboat I knew I was safe.' Chris was transferred to the all-weather sister lifeboat from where he was winched up by the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Caernarfon. It flew him for transfer to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor. Three nearby vessels alerted to the incident by a broadcast from Holyhead MRCC had stood by to offer support until Chris was confirmed safe. He was cold and had suffered a bang to the nose but was otherwise unharmed. His EPIRB had been picked up and was returned to him the next day. Even his glasses were still round his neck. 'When I called my wife Pauline she said, 'You have done what?!'' Chris recalled. 'I said to her, 'Is there any chance you could pick me up from the hospital and bring a complete set of clothes?'' Thanking HM Coastguard and the RNLI for the 'textbook' rescue, Chris said: 'I was not getting out of it on my own, that's for sure. Without them, I would have bobbed around until I fell unconscious. Then I would have simply sunk below the surface.' Maritime Operations Officer Paul McGinness was part of the team that coordinated the rescue from Holyhead MRCC. On behalf of Holyhead MRCC, Paul said: 'This rescue shows how even the most experienced sailors can get into a scrape. Being prepared, particularly with a registered EPIRB, makes all the difference to how it can end. We're so glad Chris came home safe. A thank you to the vessels in the area that also assisted.' Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead for Wales, the North West and Isle of Man, said: 'This was a real team effort between all the emergency services and Chris is incredibly lucky. Thanks to Chris being able to give precise details of his position via the EPIRB and the fact he was carrying a handheld radio, he was quickly located by the Holyhead volunteer crew and pulled out of the water. 'He was also wearing a lifejacket, which we know increases the chances of survival in man overboard situations.'
North Wales Chronicle
15-07-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Rescue after yacht runs aground at Abermenai Point
Rhosneigr Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked on Monday evening (July 14) by Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to attend Abermenai Point near Newborough to get "eyes" on the white yacht. A statement by Rhosneigr Coastguard Rescue Team said: "As team members arrived on scene, we managed to get eyes on the yacht from a distance to which the Beaumaris RNLI Lifeboat had arrived and was quickly alongside and were carrying out welfare checks of the POB, also checking for any damage to the boat and positioning its anchor "Once it was established that the POB was ok and was happy to wait onboard until the tide becomes high enough to attempt to refloat, and with the MRCC remaining in regular radio contact. we were able to stand down and return to station." In a coastal emergency, telephone 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Coast Guard rescues two foreign nationals from stranded US vessel
Kolkata: (ICG) rescued two foreign nationals — an American and a Turkish crew member — from a US sailing vessel stranded in the Bay of Bengal early on Friday. The vessel, Sea Angel, was stranded 52 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, officials said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Blair received a distress alert late on Thursday from the US consulate in Chennai, prompting the Coast Guard to start the rescue operation. The yacht lost propulsion due to a blown sail and an entangled propeller while battling rough sea conditions, sources said. MRCC alerted nearby merchant ships and deployed ICG ship Rajveer for the rescue. The Coast Guard vessel established communication with the stranded yacht and assessed the situation on-site. The crew was found to be in good health despite challenging conditions at sea. "Despite heavy winds and mechanical disablement, the crew was found safe and in good health. On the morning of July 11, the yacht was successfully towed and escorted to Campbell Bay harbour," ICG said in a statement.
India Today
11-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Coast Guard rescues two from stranded US yacht near Andaman coast
The Indian Coast Guard rescued two sailors from a US sailing boat, Sea Angel, after it was stranded in rough seas southeast of Indira Point in the Andaman & Nicobar rescue operation began late Thursday night after the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Blair received a distress alert from the US Consulate in alert said that the yacht, with one American and one Turkish crew member, had lost power and was drifting 52 nautical miles from Indira Point, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, reported news agency vessel had got disabled amid extremely rough conditions with a blown sail and entangled propeller, a senior official of the ICG "Heroic rescue at sea! Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save US yacht Sea Angel with two crew, after complete propulsion failure near Indira Port. On 10 Jul 25, at 1157 hrs, ICG MRCC Port Blair received a distress alert from the US consulate in Chennai regarding yacht Sea Angel with one US and one Turkish crew, stranded 52 NM South East of Indira Point," ICG wrote on rescue at sea! @IndiaCoastGuard ship #Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save #US yacht Sea Angel with two crew, after complete propulsion failure near #IndiraPoint. On 10 Jul 25, at 1157 hrs #ICG MRCC #PortBlair received a distress alert from #UnitedStates Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) July 11, 2025The MRCC quickly activated the International Safety Net, alerting nearby ships and launching a rescue effort. The Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer was sent to the reached the yacht on Friday morning. The Coast Guard team found the yacht's sail torn and ropes stuck in its propeller, making it unable to move. They established contact with the sailors and checked the condition of the vessel was taken under tow and safely brought to Campbell Bay harbour by 8:00 am on Friday. Both crew members were unharmed."MRCC activated the International Safety Net, and ICG Ship Rajveer was deployed for a rescue operation. Upon arrival, the yacht was found with its sail blown off and ropes entangled in the propeller. Sea Angel was taken under tow at 1850 Hrs and brought safely to Campbell Bay at 0800 Hrs on 11 Jul 25," ICG month, the Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued three Sri Lankan nationals who were found stranded on a sandbar near Adam's Bridge, off the coast of Dhanushkodi in Tamil to the Coastal Security Group Police, the trio had travelled from Sri Lanka in an unidentified boat. The vessel reportedly left them behind on the sandbar, which lies within Indian territorial waters.- EndsMust Watch
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
ICG ship Rajveer rescues US sailing vessel with 2 crew members stranded at south-east of Indira Point
Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) [India], July 11 (ANI): India Coast Guard (ICG) ship Rajveer successfully rescued a USA sailing vessel, Sea Angel, carrying two crew members, stranded in turbulent seas south-east of Indira Point, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. According to the ICG, the rescue operation was launched by MRCC Port Blair after they received a distress alert on Thursday night that a yacht, carrying one US and one Turkish crew, had experienced a propulsion failure at 52 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 'Heroic rescue at sea! Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save US yacht Sea Angel with two crew, after complete propulsion failure near Indira Port. On 10 Jul 25, at 1157 hrs, ICG MRCC Port Blair received a distress alert from the US consulate in Chennai regarding yacht Sea Angel with one US and one Turkish crew, stranded 52 NM South East of Indira Point,' ICG wrote on X. After receiving the distress call from the US Consulate in Chennai, MRCC activated the International Safety Net, alerting all nearby merchant vessels and launching rescue coordination protocols. Subsequently, ICG ship Rajveer was deployed for the rescue operation. The Indian patrol vessel reached the vessel on Friday morning and established communication with the stranded crew, conducted an on-site assessment. Upon arrival, the yacht was found with its sail blown off and ropes entangled in the propeller. The vessel was safely taken under tow and escorted to Campbell Bay, arriving at the harbour at 8:00 am. 'MRCC activated the International Safety Net, and ICG Ship Rajveer was deployed for a rescue operation. Upon arrival, the yacht was found with its sail blown off and ropes entangled in the propeller. Sea Angel was taken under tow at 1850 Hrs and brought safely to Campbell Bay at 0800 Hrs on 11 Jul 25,' ICG said. Last Month, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued three Sri Lankan nationals who had been abandoned on a sandbar near Adam's Bridge, off the coast of Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. According to the Coastal Security Group Police, the trio had set off from Sri Lanka in an unidentified boat, which dropped them off on the sandbar located in Indian waters. (ANI)
