Pregnant woman rescued from sinking Solent vessel

A sinking boat with two people on board – including a pregnant woman – was rescued in the Solent.

Those on board the rapidly submerging vessel sent out a Mayday after being stranded in the ocean between the Solent Forts and Ryde, Isle of Wight, at 5.40pm (31st August).

Lifeboat crews from Gosport and Hamble scrambled. GAFIRS (Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service) based at Stokes Bay, were on scene within four minutes of the Mayday call being sent and were presented with the worrying sight of the vessel, upturned, three quarters submerged and surrounded by floating debris.

“Thankfully the two occupants, including a pregnant lady, were picked up moments before by another vessel who also heard the distress call, we placed a crew member on-board the assisting vessel to check on the welfare of the casualties who were shaken but unharmed,” says Duty GAFIRS Coxswain, Pete Byford.

“After careful consideration and liaison with Queens Harbour Master, who are responsible for the safe passage of ships through these waters, it was decided to attempt to tow the sinking vessel away before it became completely submerged which would render it a hazard to shipping.”

Hamble Lifeboat, which was also responding to the call, arrived and offered to take the occupants into Portsmouth Harbour to be met by an ambulance for medical assessment.

After all the loose debris had been collected, the Gosport Lifeboat attached a line to the vessel and began the slow, two hour transit away from the main shipping channel and towards GAFIRS Lifeboat station at Stokes Bay where a prolonged salvage operation began.

With the help of shore crews and Hill Head Mobile Coastguard Rescue Team, recovery lines were carefully attached around the damaged hull and the team were successful in bringing the swamped vessel up the beach, safely above the high water mark where it would no longer pose a threat to other traffic in the Solent.

The operation took just over four hours after a long day of training and other Coastguard taskings.

GAFIRS (Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service) is an independent lifeboat charity separate to the RNLI which provides emergency lifeboat cover to the Eastern Solent with their primary focus on Hill Head to, and including, Portsmouth Harbour.