Powerboat owner plucked from sea off St Anne's Head

A powerboat owner has been safely
plucked from the sea after three
hours in the water off the coast of
Pembrokeshire.
The man had 'bounced' overboard during
a solo crossing from Wales to the
Republic of Ireland.
An emergency personal locator beacon
(PLB) had relayed a position off St Anne's
Head to rescuers.
The owner, believed to be from north-
east England, was on the way to take
part in the Round Ireland Challenge.
Falmouth coastguards had alerted Milford
Haven coastguards after receiving an
alert from the PLB via satellite just after
16:00 BST.
The beacon gave a position of 9 miles
south south west of St Anne's Head.
Mayday
Coastguards said the beacon was linked
to the owner of a Gemini Waverider rigid
inflatable boat called Merlin.
He had set off earlier from Neyland to
cross to Kilmore Quay in County
Wexford, Ireland.
The rescue involved St David's all-
weather RNLI lifeboat and an RAF Sea
King helicopter from Chivenor in Devon.
A number of boats also responded to a
mayday, including the passenger ferries
Stena Europe and the Isle of Inishmore,
which diverted to the area.
The crew of the RAF helicopter located
the boat owner in the sea 300 metres
from his boat.
The craft had been fitted with a 'kill-cord'
which had cut the engine when he fell
overboard - but the owner had been
unable to get back into the boat.
He was in the water for around three
hours.
Rescuers said he was fortunately wearing
an immersion survival suit and a
lifejacket and was found to be unharmed
when he was winched aboard the
helicopter.
Milford Haven coastguards said the
owner said he was determined to press
on and continue his journey but they
were able to persuade the owner to
return to the Welsh coast.
Coastguards said they were pleased that
the boat owner was well equipped as
there has been a call for boat owners to
fit kill cords.
They added that the locator beam may
well have saved his life.