The German Maritime Search and Rescue Association has reported a tragic accident in the Bay of Biscay. Late on Thursday evening, a German sailor lost his life when his yacht was wrecked south of La Rochelle. According to several media reports, the skipper was from Hanover. His wife was rescued. During the rescue operation, three sea rescuers from the French sea rescue organisation SNSM (Societé Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer) were washed overboard, but were also rescued.
Shortly after 11 p.m., the yachtswoman alerted the Bremen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS). Her husband had fallen overboard from their ten-metre sailing yacht in heavy weather. She herself was injured. The Bremen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre immediately alerted MRCC Etel (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in France.
Two civilian rescue helicopters of the Securité Civile, a helicopter of the French Armée de l'Air (air force) and two units of the SNSM were alerted. The rescue cruisers "Sieur de Mons" (Royan station) and "Madeleine Dassault" (Le Verdon-sur-Mer station), which were also alerted, ran into such heavy seas in strong westerly winds and outgoing water off the mouth of the river La Gironde that three crew members were washed overboard from one of the two ships. Two were rescued by their own crew and another was picked up by a helicopter.
One of the helicopters rescued the sailor about twelve nautical miles (around 22 kilometres) west of the coast from the yacht, which had lost its mast in heavy weather. The "Caracal" army helicopter found the sailor, who could only be rescued dead despite wearing a lifejacket. A diver was lowered down to him and winched up with him. On board the helicopter, a military doctor was only able to determine that the sailor was dead.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
