Swimmer's jet skiers ordeal
‘MOUTHY’ jet skiers ‘threatened’ an open-water swimmer by riding within metres of her in Southsea.
GailBaird,63,wasinthesea on her own off Southsea beach on Sunday afternoon, when two riders came motoring towards her.
The strategic assistant for Portsmouth In The Community recounted that the pair passed the safety buoys and revved their engines close to her.
Ms Baird, of Southsea, told The News: ‘It was totally a frightening experience.
‘They encircled me, and I just thought about what I was going to do. It felt a bit like sharks circling me.’
The 5ft 3in swimmer said the ordeal happened at 3.30pm.
Herhusband,DanBernard, watched on in disbelief from the beach.
Ms Baird said it ‘alarmed’ everyone who watched from the ‘packed’ beach, as the pair had entered a designated a safety area for swimmers.
She added: ‘I started shouting at them “what are you doing, you’re too close to the beach, get back”. This one guy was giving it large, and shouting “we can go where we want”, andIwasscreamingatthemto get away.
‘Theyweremouthyandverbal.
‘I felt quite threatened, and itwasn’taverypleasantexperience coming across them.’
Reports of the incident were given to the life guards, and the Queen’s Harbour Master.
Ms Baird said she had never experienced anything like it in her 16 years of open-water swimming in Portsmouth.
She added: ‘People should be made aware of where they can go on jet skis.
‘Somanypeoplewereinthe seahavingagoodtime,andyou can’t allow jet skis to go near them.
‘You just can’t, otherwise there’sgoingtobeanaccident.’
Police say they have received fewer reports of antisocial behaviour by people on water vehicles since introducing Operation Wavebreaker in 2020.
A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said they encouragepersonalwatercraft userstoactwithinlocalregulations. He added: ‘The majority of personal water craft users act responsibly.
‘However there are occasional reports of dangerous and anti-social use, as indeed there are with other types of vessel. Some locations will havedesignatedswimmingareassolelyforswimmingwhich areoftendenotedbyshoreline buoys.
‘Areas such as this are not to be used by vessels in order to reduce the risk of collisions between swimmers.’
DeputyLangstoneHarbour Master, Rob Dunford, 31, said there are measures in place at LangstoneHarbourtowardoff irresponsible aquatic vehicle users.
Since the beginning of April, riders need Royal Yachting Association (RYA) personal watercraft certificates to launch from the harbour.
MrDunfordsaid:‘Wewould encourage anyone experiencing something like that to report it to us.
‘We successfully prosecuted errant jet skiers or water craft users in the past.
‘It has been a nuisance on the whole of the Solent.’
Speaking on behalf of the Queens Harbour Master, a spokeswoman from the Royal Navy said: ‘It is our priority to ensure the safety and security of all those who use it.
‘While there has been no increase in the number of reporteddangerousincidentsinvolving Personal Water Craft ( jet ski) users, we would urge all to act responsibly.’