Man overboard

Beneteau crewman airlifted to hospital with hypothermia

Just to prove that you don't need to be in the Southern Ocean to get into serious trouble from a man overboard incident, today a crew man taking part in the Hamble River Sailing Club Winter Series fell overboard and had to be taken to hospital with hypothermia.

At 1140 Peter Thomas' Beneteau 40.7 Pissaro - racing in IRC class under the name Appledore Shipbuilders - put a call through to Solent Coastguard saying they needed assistance for a crewman who had fallen overboard. At present it is unclear how the crewman fell overboard, except that he was recovered. At the time the yacht was near the Hill Head buoy in a southwesterly force 5-6.

Fortunately there was a doctor on board, who after examining the crewman saw that the effects of hypothermia had set in and recommended that the crewman be taken to hospital. Solent Coastguard responded by sending a helicopter and the crewman was winches off and taken to the Queen Alexandria hospital in Portsmouth.

Further details to follow...