The RNLI’s life-saving role was really put to the test in a choppy Solent today when Cowes lifeboat rescued a windsurfer after an intensive 45 minute search.
Solent Coastguard were alerted to the emergency just before 13:00 when a windsurfer on the beach at Lepe, Hampshire, reported that his friend on another board had lost his mast in the vicinity of East Lepe Buoy. Cowes lifeboat, with Max Rimington at the helm, raced to the area and began a search in challenging wind-against-tide conditions.
After failing to spot the windsurfer the coastguards advised the lifeboat to begin searching near West Lepe Buoy. Eventually, against all odds, crew member Graham Creigh reported just glimpsing a head in the water a quarter of a mile away.
The man was found clinging to his board, cold and exhausted. His broken mast and sail, which had become shredded, was nearby. After putting him in a sea-survival bag he was eventually reunited with his friend at Lepe beach.
“He had been in the water nearly an hour, was very relieved to see us,” said Max. “The waves were quite high and there was a 5- 6 south-easterly, and it was brilliant that Graham managed to spot the man. In fact the whole of our four-man crew – which also included Laurie O’Callaghan and Stuart Higgs – performed extraordinarily well.”
It appears that the discovery of the man occurred just as Solent Coastguard were about to call out Rescue 104 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent. The lifeboat had been away from station for an hour.
