Pair rescued from makeshift boat in North Sea
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Version 0 of 1. Two men have been rescued after they became stranded in the North Sea in a boat made of scrap plywood. The pair, who are in their 20s and were not wearing lifejackets, called for help when their oars broke and they drifted 200 metres (650ft) off the coast of Jaywick, Essex. They told rescuers that the craft, constructed from scrap plywood, insulation boards and wire coat hangers, was held together with £9 of silicone adhesive. Joff Strutt, of the Clacton RNLI, said: “A lot of people may have been working on their homes over Easter – but this was a rather hasty DIY project which nearly landed them in trouble. “They had been out fishing the previous day and decided to give it another go on Monday. “At the end of the day’s fishing, they found themselves too far out at sea. Their oars weren’t strong enough and they weren’t wearing lifejackets. Fortunately nobody was hurt and they’ve learned a lesson.” The pair rang the Thames Coastguard at about 2.20pm on Sunday as they were trying to return to the Martello Beach Holiday Park in Jaywick. Strutt added: “You can’t stop people making their own boats but they need to make sure they know what they’re doing and, if you’re going to sea, make sure you’re wearing a lifejacket.” The boat was later destroyed with the men’s permission. |