Boat owners warned to use safety equipment after estuary rescue

Published: 8 March 2022

People have been warned about the dangers of sailing without the right safety equipment after a man was rescued from a sinking yacht in the Exe Estuary this morning.

Harbour patrollers from Exeter City Council plucked the man from the sinking vessel after it started to take on water during choppy conditions. The incident happened just a quarter of a mile off Shelley Beach in Exmouth.

Harbour Master Grahame Forshaw said: “Having the right safety equipment is paramount. If he had gone in the water without a life jacket there is a good chance that he would have died.”

The chance rescue happened after the Harbour Patrollers were going out on the water in their small patrol boat to service a number of moorings. The team had to turn back to shore after conditions deteriorated and noticed the small yacht sinking fast.

The team approached the yacht to make a note of what was happening and noticed that there was a man on board, trying to pump out water and not wearing a life jacket or vest.

The patrol boat pulled alongside the yacht and plucked the man to safety.

The yacht had been damaged in the recent storms and run aground at Exmouth. The owner then tried to re-float it on Monday night, stayed on board overnight but then got into trouble when it started taking on water.

“When we arrived he was tired and cold and didn’t have a life jacket,” added Grahame.

“People should not be going onto the water at this time of year or at any other time of year without the right safety equipment. The water at this time of year is at its coldest and if he had gone into the water he would have died,” Grahame stressed.

The team have advised the owner of the best course of action to salvage the sinking boat.