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Man rescued from tiny dinghy

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Sunburnt man rescued from dinghy challenge

A man attempting to sail from Dorset to Ireland in an inflatable dinghy has been rescued.

Portland Coastguard received a call just after 3pm yesterday reporting concern for the man in the six foot blow-up vessel, floating around 2.7 nautical miles south of Durdle Door.

He was heading to Ireland with just two paddles - one used as a mast accompanied by a plastic sheet as a sail, the other as a rudder to steer.

Having first refused help, he was then rescued by a local dive ship and taken into Lulworth Cove where he was met by coastguards, police and paramedics.

He received treatment for a high degree of sunburn. It later transpired that the man left Osmington Mills at 9am that morning.

This man was extremely lucky to be found when he was. With no suitable communications equipment, limited life saving equipment and inadequate food and drink resources for his passage to Ireland, the outcome could have been very different.

If you’re planning to head out to sea, the key is to be well prepared. Inflatable dinghies, such as this, are unsuitable and not recommended for coastal passages of this nature.

It’s also vital to have appropriate VHF/DSC communications, life saving equipment and the resources to sustain a venture such as this person intended.

– John Braisher, Watch Officer at Portland Coastguard
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Man rescued from tiny dinghy

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