New Year tragedy - MtS Falmouth is foulweather friend

One seafarer died and two others were airlifted to safety after their vessel was hit by a wave off the Cornish coast during yesterday's severe weather.

The airsea rescue mission was launched at 11.40am when three crewmen, one British, were apparently washed across the deck and into railings on the 140-metre Annie PG, as she sailed 20 miles south of Plymouth.The most severely injured seafarer was taken from the tanker by a Royal Navy helicopter and flown to hospital.  He was later confirmed dead.

In a statement reported by the BBC, the company which owns the Annie PG, Pritchard Gordon Tankers, said of the lost crewman: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues and friends and we would like to express our heartfelt condolences at this most difficult of times."

Chairman of the local Mission to Seafarers' branch, Penny Phillips, broke off her holiday to ensure that MtS Falmouth was on hand to offer support to the shocked survivors.

Lt Rob Spinks, from 771 Squadron RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, said the deck was repeatedly battered by large waves during the rescue.

"It was quite tricky," he told local paper the Western Morning News. "There was a 20-30ft swell with winds of about 35 knots. The main difficulty we faced was getting the guys on and off because the tanker was moving around so much."

The RNAS helicopter returned to the Isle of Man-flagged  tanker, which had been sailing to the refinery at Stanlow, in Cheshire, and picked up two less seriously hurt crewmen. 

"One of these two was billeted in a local hotel to recover, and he should be rejoining his ship this morning. The other seafarer was hospitalised but it is possible that he, too, will be released today, either to the hotel or to the ship. The Mission is monitoring and will continue to assist as required", says Penny Phillips, chairman of MtS Falmouth.

In situations such as this, the Falmouth Mission to Seafarers chaplain, Father Mark Mesley, is also on hand, offering family liaison, post-trauma support and bereavement counselling, as well as practical help. The perilous seas around the Cornish coast cause many shipwrecks and claim many lives.