AWL 47-001 ‘CITY OF LONDON’ launched at 1447 hrs to answer a ‘May Day’ call from the fishing vessel ‘Freedom’ which, after experiencing engine problems and lying broadside to the sea, was being swamped and was sinking with three male persons on board in a position approximately 0.75 miles west of the Looe Channel.
The vessel sank very quickly and the three crew were unable to get into their life raft although they had already inflated it. The three casualties were wearing lifejackets and luckily a passing yacht the ‘Singta’, which was approximately 400 metres away, responded to their mayday call and recovered all three casualties within 5 minutes of being in the water.
HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter ‘INDIA JULIET’ arrived on scene at 1500 hrs and circled the area until the ‘CITY OF LONDON’ arrived at 1510 hrs. The three casualties were recovered onto the ‘CITY OF LONDON’ from the yacht ‘Singta’ via their life raft; cold, wet and shaken, but otherwise unharmed. They were placed in the aft cabin to warm up and were monitored by two crewmembers during the journey back to the Lifeboat Station. The ‘CITY OF LONDON’ arrived back at 1535 hrs and rehoused straight away. The casualties were given dry clothes and refreshments before being picked up and transported back to their home port of Portsmouth. ‘CITY OF LONDON’ was reported ready for service at 1600 hrs.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Willy Pledger (2nd Coxswain), Keith Lintott (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Dave Lamdin, Phil Pitham, Sarah Frazier.
WIND: South West F6. SEA: Slight. WEATHER: Sunny.