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Missing sailor rescued from damaged yacht Missing sailor rescued from damaged yacht
(about 4 hours later)
A sailor has been rescued from his badly-damaged boat after nearly 12 hours adrift in stormy seas.A sailor has been rescued from his badly-damaged boat after nearly 12 hours adrift in stormy seas.
The 52-year-old man sent a VHF radio message shortly before 17:00 BST on Monday, reporting the yacht was at risk of capsizing in the English Channel. Mick Royton, 52, sent a VHF radio message shortly before 17:00 BST on Monday, reporting the yacht was at risk of capsizing in the English Channel.
A major search involving the coastguard and navy was called off before he was found at 04:00, 18 miles south of Portland.A major search involving the coastguard and navy was called off before he was found at 04:00, 18 miles south of Portland.
Mr Royton said it was a "huge relief" to be rescued.
He had been living on the vessel and was travelling from France to Poole.He had been living on the vessel and was travelling from France to Poole.
He is not believed to be seriously injured but arrived on shore with his arm in a sling before being taken to hospital. "I thought my time was up. I was very glad to get out of the storm and glad to be safe," he said.
An experienced sailor, Mr Royton was suffering from the early stages of hypothermia and was taken to hospital in Dorchester after being brought ashore.
'Hanging on''Hanging on'
Two coastguard helicopters, a navy helicopter, a French aircraft, a navy vessel and lifeboats originally searched an area 37 miles (60km) south of the Needles.Two coastguard helicopters, a navy helicopter, a French aircraft, a navy vessel and lifeboats originally searched an area 37 miles (60km) south of the Needles.
Cdr Catherine Jordan, of HMS St Albans, said this was the position the man had given to coastguards. Cdr Catherine Jordan, of HMS St Albans, said this was the position the sailor had given to coastguards.
She added the search had concluded before he was found during the navy vessel's normal duties. She said the search had concluded before he was found during the navy vessel's normal duties.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said: "Coastguards coordinating the search for a trimaran in the Channel overnight were contacted by the British naval vessel HMS St Albans shortly before 4am, reporting they were standing by a dismasted trimaran with one person visible on top of the damaged vessel.
"The RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Weymouth went to the scene and has recovered a man from the damaged vessel and it is reported that there was only one person on board."
Cdr Jordan said the boat was "leaning over and drifting in the heavy seas" when the yachtsman was discovered.Cdr Jordan said the boat was "leaning over and drifting in the heavy seas" when the yachtsman was discovered.
"He was hanging on - it wasn't pleasant for him, the yacht was rolling around a lot," she said, adding: "He was in distress.""He was hanging on - it wasn't pleasant for him, the yacht was rolling around a lot," she said, adding: "He was in distress."
'Atrocious conditions''Atrocious conditions'
Andrew Jenkins, of the MCA, said the "very faint" Mayday call was picked up by a merchant vessel.Andrew Jenkins, of the MCA, said the "very faint" Mayday call was picked up by a merchant vessel.
He said: "Quite a large-scale search was undertaken in quite atrocious conditions.He said: "Quite a large-scale search was undertaken in quite atrocious conditions.
"Once the units on scene had used up their endurance, we called in a fifth rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor to complete the search but the conditions were so bad that they had to call off their search due to the electrical storms in the area.""Once the units on scene had used up their endurance, we called in a fifth rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor to complete the search but the conditions were so bad that they had to call off their search due to the electrical storms in the area."
Mr Jenkins said the man was brought ashore by a lifeboat because the conditions were too severe to winch him off. Mr Jenkins said Mr Royton was brought ashore by a lifeboat because the conditions were too severe to winch him off.
"He was described as having no serious injuries but clearly, having spent the best part of 12 hours on board a dismasted vessel in very rough conditions, I think he is very, very cold and probably suffering from some level of hypothermia."