Navy rescues civilians from yacht sinking in the Channel

SAILORS from a Royal Navy destroyer rescued four people after their yacht began to sink off the Isle of Wight.

HMS Diamond was sailing out of Portsmouth Naval Base, Hants, on Thursday when it received a mayday call from a civilian yacht.

It was sailing from the Beaulieu river in the New Forest to Honfleur in northern France and sent out the distress signal when it started taking on a “significant” amount of water.

The crew of the Type 45 destroyer co-ordinated the rescue operation with Newhaven and Bembridge RNLI crews and a French coastguard helicopter, picking up four of the five crew who were checked over by medical staff before being taken to hospital by the Newhaven lifeboat.

Three sailors from HMS Diamond then went back to the yacht to help its skipper stabilise the vessel and sail it to the UK. HMS Diamond’s commanding

‘This is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Service and I could not be more proud of my team’

officer, Commander Peter Barfoot, said: “When the yacht sent out her distress call, Diamond was in the vicinity and therefore able to respond in a timely manner.

“The ship’s company were able to evacuate and disembark the crew who needed medical assistance.

“At the same time, some of the ship’s specialists were able to embark and provide essential support to the yacht’s skipper, which ultimately prevented the vessel from sinking.

“In arduous conditions, working without respite, members of my ship’s company saved the lives of five sailors and ensured a vessel was not lost.

“This is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Service and I could not be more proud of my team.”

HMS Diamond left Portsmouth yesterday to join up with HMS Queen Elizabeth for operations in northern European waters as part of a Carrier Strike Group.