It was already dark when the rescue control centre in Bremen received an emergency call from a skipper. At 7.30 p.m. on Saturday evening, the owner of an 11.50 metre X-Yacht reported that his electrical system on board had failed. He was unable to give an exact position, according to the sea rescuers. The connection via his handheld radio was too poor. Contact was lost shortly afterwards.
Large-scale search late Saturday evening
The DGzRS control centre then initiated a large-scale search in the area between Cuxhaven and the eastern East Frisian Islands. A total of eight ships - five from the DGzRS and three from the authorities - as well as a rescue helicopter from the navy took part.
There were only a few clues as to the whereabouts of the missing man. One of these was the radio relay via which the sea rescuers received the distress call. Another came from the missing man's family. According to this, the man was travelling from Den Helder in the Netherlands to Brunsbüttel.
More dramatic maritime emergencies:
At 0.45 a.m., after a five-hour search, the crew of the rescue cruiser "Bernhard Gruben" from Hooksiel discovered the missing man. He was near the Otzumer Balje approach buoy to the Seegatt between Spiekeroog and Langeoog. According to the DGzRS, the man was exhausted and hypothermic. The sea rescuers first treated him on site and then handed him over to an ambulance. His yacht was towed to the harbour in Hooksiel.
