Cowes RNLI Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team were all involved in a search of the River Medina yesterday afternoon (Saturday) as a result of an emergency beacon activation.
At around 15:30, Cowes Lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard to conduct a search of the River Medina to establish if an emergency locator beacon sounding on the river was a real call for help.
After 2 hours of searching with the assistance of Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team, a vessel was eventually identified in East Cowes marina.
Fortunately, the beacon was only being tested and no vessel or person was in distress.
Search and rescue teams were stood down.
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Why didn’t the Idiots inform the emergency services that they were testing a beacon, charge them.
“Fortunately, the beacon was only being tested and no vessel or person was in distress.”
Surely if the beacon was only being tested, the people testing it should have informed Cowes RNLI Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team so they wouldn`t have had to launch an all out search at probably considerable cost?
If the beacon was only being tested, why weren’t the rescue services notified? I think the rescue services should send the owner of the beacon an invoice to cover the cost of the call out.
You’d think they would have advised the coastguard that they were testing their PBL… Should have been charged for the call out…
Curious as to why locating device took 2 hours? Helicopter? What make was it one assumes it is of poor quality? Equipment update needed? If you were in water at time of emergency you would be dead or very hypothermic!