The two crew were thrown into the water before their boat began spinning dangerously around them
Two people had to be
rescued on Sunday morning after they were thrown from their motorboat, which
then began circling out of control around them.
Dover Coastguard received
an emergency phone call just after 9am from a member of the public who had
spotted the motorboat with nobody on board just off St Leonards, East Sussex.
The caller also
reported that two people could be seen in the water clinging to a buoy as the
vessel circled near them.
The skipper of the vessel
was not wearing a kill cord, meaning the engine continued to run with no one at
the helm.
Hastings Coastguard Rescue
Team and an RNLI lifeboat attended the scene and found the two crew had managed
to swim back to shore.
The pair were met by
coastguard rescue officers and an ambulance crew but did not appear to have
suffered any injuries.
The lifeboat crew
eventually brought the motorboat under control and the engine was cut off.
Dover Coastguard watch
manager Nicola Goodban, said: “This Sunday morning boat
trip could easily have ended in tragedy. It appears the driver of this RHIB was
not wearing a kill cord, which meant when the people on board were thrown into
the water, there was no way to stop the engine and bring the boat under
control.
“We always recommend you wear a kill cord when out on a powerboat. One end of
the kill cord is attached near the throttle and the other should go around the
helmsman’s leg. You should always check your kill cord works at the start of
each day or session and remember to renew it regularly.”
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