Drink and stupidity lead to two in the water at Studland

London, 11 May/GNN/ -- MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 3) issued by The Government News Network on 11 May 2008 Portland Coastguard have been co-ordinating in the wee small h

A call to the Coastguard from a female, a resident of Wimborne, who was on
the beach at Studland near Poole, described the two young friends of hers,
a male aged 20 from Verwood and female, 18, from Horton. All three came
across to the area by Sandbanks ferry earlier yesterday evening, and had
taken a white wooden dinghy from Shell Bay Marine and put to sea around 40
minutes earlier than her call.

In the darkness she had lost sight and sound of them, and was clearly concerned
for their safety. She described how she had been shouting for them but had
had no answer.

The two Swanage lifeboats, inshore and all weather were asked to launch in
the benign conditions and began searching around the south side of Studland
using search lights in the darkness. The local Coastguard Rescue Team were
also turned out to try and locate the first informant on the beach. It was
clear through the conversations that took place that all three young people
had clearly been drinking heavily.

Shortly thereafter another call came in to the Coastguard from an entirely
unconnected group of lads, also on the beach but further away who identified
they could hear shouting coming from seaward side. Using that information
and searching in the area at around 4.00 am this morning, the all weather
lifeboat crew discovered both missing individuals in the water, with one
clinging to a buoy. Seemingly the dinghy had capsized and sank, pitching
them both into the 11 degree Celsius water.

An ambulance was called and both people were brought ashore in a poor state
with the girl slipping in and out of consciousness and taken to hospital. A
Police unit also attended the scene.

The three had clearly been intent on spending sometime on the beach as the
Coastguard gathered up clothing, pillows, windbreaks, etc from the beach to
hand over to the Police.

Bruce Lack, Watch Manager at Portland Coastguard said

"Drink and stupidity played major parts in this incident with the two young
people in serious danger of losing their lives as a result. From taking a
boat with no oars to having no lifejackets or means of communication in the
darkness in open sea is sheer madness fuelled by drink and bravado.

"We cannot stress enough how dangerous this kind of game can be, and that it
is only at this time of year the sea is slightly warming, but not enough to
put you beyond danger of severe hypothermia after prolonged immersion. The
dulling of the senses by alcohol coupled with the cold shock of unexpectedly
plunging into seawater can be a killer.

"We would particularly like to thank the group of Irish lads also on the beach
for their public spiritedness in alerting us to the cries of help they heard."

For further details please call:

Mark Clark, The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Duty Press Officer on:
(02380) 841840 / (07711) 002678 (mobile) / 07693 345278 (pager)
or during office hours (02380) 329401

Source: Maritime and Coastguard Agency

2008-05-11 02:45:58 0358153 PRNEWSWIRE