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Sailor in Spain saved by 999 call | Sailor in Spain saved by 999 call |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A worried wife's 999 call in England led to the rescue of a sailor who spent four days in a life raft off Spain. | A worried wife's 999 call in England led to the rescue of a sailor who spent four days in a life raft off Spain. |
Jayesh Patel, from Finchley, north London, was travelling from the island of Palma to Tarragona, Spain, with a friend when a wave sank their yacht. | |
His wife Louise dialled 999 from their London home as she had not heard from him for 24 hours. A major air search was launched and the two were found. | |
They are said to be well despite being adrift for four days and three nights. | They are said to be well despite being adrift for four days and three nights. |
Businessman Mr Patel, 43, was sailing with a Belgian friend on a motor cruiser named Umbalika when it was hit by a wave. The yacht sank within two minutes. | |
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said coastguards had no idea the sailors were in distress until Mrs Patel dialled 999 on 13 November. | |
No food | |
The call was picked up by the Thames Coastguard which alerted the International Coastguard Liaison Station at Falmouth, Cornwall. | The call was picked up by the Thames Coastguard which alerted the International Coastguard Liaison Station at Falmouth, Cornwall. |
Coastguards in Madrid then launched an air sea search and the men were picked up two days later. He returned home on Sunday following hospital checks. | |
Mr Patel said: "It was a very, very frightening experience. There were 40 to 50 mile an hour winds, waves of two to three metres." | |
He added: "We had no food. The boat went down so fast - we didn't have time to grab anything. We made a mayday call but for some reason it didn't get through. | |
When I got home I got a hug - and a kick Jayesh Patel | |
"When I saw the rescue boat I just died with relief." | |
Mr Patel said: "I owe my life to my wife's alertness and to the coastguards in Britain and Spain." | |
He added: "When I got home I got a hug - and a kick. There are lessons to be learned but it hasn't put me off sailing." | |
Mr Patel said the incident highlighted the value of the 999 system. "The sea has no borders," he said. | |
A MCA spokeswoman said: "The two men were experienced sailors and the woman provided a lot of information about them, their boat and their plans." | A MCA spokeswoman said: "The two men were experienced sailors and the woman provided a lot of information about them, their boat and their plans." |
She added: "One of the lessons is that if you have any concerns about anyone anywhere at sea then tell the authorities and something can be done, no matter where you are." | She added: "One of the lessons is that if you have any concerns about anyone anywhere at sea then tell the authorities and something can be done, no matter where you are." |