Teenager's call saves yachts trio
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Article Date: 2006-12-12
View Count: 1018
A 13-year-old boy took charge of a potentially dangerous situation when his family yacht ran aground on the Thames late on Saturday night.
In the dark, the teenager phoned Thames coastguards and proceeded to accurately explain where the vessel was and what had happened to it on behalf of his completely deaf father and brother.
Making a VHF call on channel 16, the international maritime distress frequency, the young lad relayed information as to the boat's whereabouts allowing the coastguards to liaise with the London port authorities who were able to pick up the distressed trio on radar.
A Walton RNLI lifeboat was then launched along with a helicopter from ARCC Kinloss and together they sought out the family's yacht, which was subsequently towed back to Brightlingsea.
Mick Carpenter, Thames' Coastguard watch manager, said that the yacht was on passage from Wivenhoe to the Greenwich yacht club when they "ran aground in the dark".
"I would like to praise the young lad who raised the alarm on behalf of his father and brother," he added.
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