A sailor is tonight in A&E after suffering facial injuries when his vessel was struck by a rogue wave off the coast of the Isle of Wight – and he has heaped praise on the emergency services for their fast and outstanding response.
The experienced sailor issued a Mayday call after his boat was overwhelmed by a sudden wave west of The Needles, prompting the launch of Yarmouth RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat at around 15:40 this afternoon (Tuesday), as previously reported by Island Echo.
Speaking from hospital, the skipper has given Island Echo a vivid account of the terrifying incident and his gratitude to those who came to his aid.
Peter has said:
“Coming past The Needles in heavy following seas, I dropped off the top of a wave and stuffed the bow straight into the next.
“A solid wall of water hit the windscreen, blew straight through, ripped the headlining down and flooded the cabin. For a few moments, everything went black, no power, no vision, just chaos.”
After regaining control of his systems, he sent out a distress call – something he says no skipper ever wants to do.
“When the systems came back, I made the call no skipper ever wants to make: ‘Mayday, Mayday, Mayday’.”
Yarmouth’s RNLI crew quickly located the vessel and brought it safely back to harbour, where paramedics from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service – Diana and Emma – treated Peter at the scene before taking him to St Mary’s Hospital.
Coastguard Rescue Officers from Needles Coastguard Rescue Team were also at the quayside in Yarmouth.
Peter has praised his rescuers, saying:
“The Yarmouth RNLI crew were on scene fast, calm, decisive, outstanding. They got us back to harbour safely.
“The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, Diana and Emma, were just as brilliant, warming me up, patching me up, and getting me to hospital.”
He believes the wave that caused the damage was a rogue swell, likely triggered by a line of underwater rocks near The Needles:
“The wave I hit was rogue – enormous – and caused by a line of underwater rocks that protruded out from The Needles. Due to the amount of spray and broken wipers from a previous wave, I didn’t see it until I was about to hit. And then – too late!”
Peter remains in A&E having glass removed from his face, but thankfully he has sustained nothing more than cuts and bruises.
In closing, the skipper shared this message:
“My heartfelt thanks to the RNLI, Coastguard and Isle of Wight emergency teams. Their professionalism and care were beyond words.
“The boat’s battered, but I’m alive, thanks to them.”
Well done Isle of Wight Ambulance Emma and correctly spelt Daina for you excellent work. And also everyone else involved in the incident. Good job
Thank you to all emergency services, you’re all brilliant. ❤️
Hear, hear