Cowes RNLI lifeboat went to the aid of a 28-year-old man who quite literally had a sinking feeling aboard his newly acquired jet ski earlier this evening (Thursday).
Solent Coastguard were alerted at around 18:30 that a man had been spotted sitting on a half-submerged stationery jet ski in the shipping lane, off Osborne Bay. The casualty managed to swim to a passing RIB before the lifeboat arrived but was soon taken aboard the lifeboat.
Clearly suffering from the cold, the 28-year-old was rushed back to the Cowes Lifeboat Station to recover. The lifeboat then returned to the jet ski to begin an alongside-tow to the public slipway next to the station. With much effort from lifeboat members and a tow from a well-wisher’s truck, the machine was eventually brought up on to The Parade.
The jet ski owner told the RNLI volunteers that he had bought the personal water craft second-hand for £4,500, only 3 days ago. The machine suffered some sort of mechanical problem.
Finding that the man had no money, Red Funnel kindly agreed he could travel free of charge on a Red Jet to Southampton, where a friend would be waiting to drive him back to his home in Gosport.
