Rescue launched after three men set sail in a fridge freezer

The Flint Coastguard Rescue Team in North Wales was called out after multiple reports of three men setting sail in a fridge freezer at Connor's Quay, Flintshire.

The fridge freezer used by the pranksters on the River Dee

TAGS: Maritime and Coastguard Agency north wales

The Flint Coastguard Rescue Team were deployed by the Holyhead Coastguard Operations Centre at 7.30pm on 12 April, following reports of three men floating down the River Dee in a fridge freezer. They were using a plank of wood for a paddle.

On arrival, members of the rescue team found the fridge freezer and plank of wood abandoned on the shore. There was no sign of the three men. The kitchen appliance was removed to a safe area, and the team returned to station.

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The UK Coastguard sent the Flint Coastguard Rescue Team to the area but the men had made it safely to shore and abandoned their ‘vessel’. They were extremely lucky they didn’t sink or get stuck in the mud when the fridge ran aground”.

“We want to say thank you to the members of the public who made multiple calls to the Coastguard reporting this incident – you did exactly the right thing calling us,” concluded the spokesperson.

Following the incident, volunteer coastguard rescue officer, Kevin Paterson, who uses Lego and social media to promote coastal safety and the work of the coastguard, posted this advice on his coastguardrescueteam Facebook page.

“Following a real-world incident on Tuesday night, the world’s smallest Coastguard Rescue Team would like to remind the public that a fridge freezer is completely unsuitable for setting out to sea in. This actually did happen…The ‘wee guys’ advise that people should be properly trained and equipped before sailing and that includes having an actual boat. #‎999coastguard. In a coastal, beach or cliff emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

It was accompanied by the photo below.