Two divers missing in Whitsand Bay
London
2 August 07MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (267/07) issued by The GovernmentNews Network on 2 August 2007At just before 1.00 pm this afternoon Brixham Coastguard were alerted to twomissing divers, both of whom were diving on the bow of the Scylla wreck inWhitsand Bay to the west of Plymouth.Indications from the crew of their dive boat `Maid Maggie' suggests that bothdivers had enough air to last them until 12.30. The Plymouth all weatherand inshore lifeboats were immediately requested to launch and a rescuehelicopter from the Royal Naval air base at Culdrose was also scrambled. TheLooe Atlantic lifeboat was also launched.The Coastguard then began broadcasting a mayday signal into the area andvarious vessels including yachts and fishing vessels have responded. Thesecraft have now been co-ordinated into a search pattern around the wreck bearingin mind the prevailing weather conditions which is a flat sea, good visibilityand light winds. Three Coastguard Rescue Teams including those from Plymouth,Tamar and Looe have also been deployed along the shoreline to maintain a visualwatch on scene and search along the coast if the divers have come ashore.A further military helicopter from the warship `Nottingham' has now alsojoined the search, and rigid inflatable boats from the warship 'Campbeltown'are also involved.Peter Davies, Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager from Brixham Coastguard said"Time is of the essence in this search. The information we have is thattheir air supply is limited and that if they have made the surface in anuncontrolled way, we need to locate them quickly. We have been receivingadvice from local dive experts and of course our experience in dealing withother dive incidents in the locality is guiding our actions."Fortunately the weather conditions are relatively benign in the area andwe are hoping for a swift resolution to this incident."For further information please contactMaritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: (023) 8032 9401Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on theWeb at www.mcga.gov.uk
London
2 August 07MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (267/07) issued by The GovernmentNews Network on 2 August 2007At just before 1.00 pm this afternoon Brixham Coastguard were alerted to twomissing divers, both of whom were diving on the bow of the Scylla wreck inWhitsand Bay to the west of Plymouth.Indications from the crew of their dive boat `Maid Maggie' suggests that bothdivers had enough air to last them until 12.30. The Plymouth all weatherand inshore lifeboats were immediately requested to launch and a rescuehelicopter from the Royal Naval air base at Culdrose was also scrambled. TheLooe Atlantic lifeboat was also launched.The Coastguard then began broadcasting a mayday signal into the area andvarious vessels including yachts and fishing vessels have responded. Thesecraft have now been co-ordinated into a search pattern around the wreck bearingin mind the prevailing weather conditions which is a flat sea, good visibilityand light winds. Three Coastguard Rescue Teams including those from Plymouth,Tamar and Looe have also been deployed along the shoreline to maintain a visualwatch on scene and search along the coast if the divers have come ashore.A further military helicopter from the warship `Nottingham' has now alsojoined the search, and rigid inflatable boats from the warship 'Campbeltown'are also involved.Peter Davies, Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager from Brixham Coastguard said"Time is of the essence in this search. The information we have is thattheir air supply is limited and that if they have made the surface in anuncontrolled way, we need to locate them quickly. We have been receivingadvice from local dive experts and of course our experience in dealing withother dive incidents in the locality is guiding our actions."Fortunately the weather conditions are relatively benign in the area andwe are hoping for a swift resolution to this incident."For further information please contactMaritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: (023) 8032 9401Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on theWeb at www.mcga.gov.uk
