RNLI releases new rescue footage of pilots forced to ditch plane at sea
Two experienced pilots were plucked from a life raft by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) after crashing their light aircraft into the English Channel off the coast of Jersey.
Footage from the RNLI shows the volunteer lifeboat crew battling through 2-3metre swells, rain and winds of up to 35mph, before reaching the two men who had managed to escape the sinking plane and climb inside a liferaft, fitted with a personal locator beacon.
All three of Jersey RNLI’s lifeboats launched – from St Helier and St Catherine – in a major multi-agency operation on Thursday 3 November, which also involved Jersey Coastguard, Channel Islands air search and a French rescue helicopter.
One of the pilots onboard Paul Clifford, said: ‘If the RNLI hadn’t rescued us it would have been a different story. I don’t know of anyone else who’s been in that situation and survived.
‘I was undergoing some advanced refresher training when, at the furthest point from the runway, the engine lost power. We did all we could to get the engine going again, but had to ditch the plane. We knew it was incredibly risky and we were unlikely to survive.
‘We climbed onto the wing, and had our lifejackets on and liferaft prepared. We were stood on the wing for around three minutes before the plane went down.’
Locating the casualties was made simpler by the personal locator beacon they were carrying – a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate people in distress at sea in need of immediate rescue.
James Hope, volunteer lifeboat helm at St Helier RNLI, said: ‘The casualties’ use of a personal locator beacon greatly improved their chances of survival and enabled us to find them in under an hour in the gale-force conditions.
‘It’s very hard to spot such a small craft in such big swells, so to actually find two people eight miles out to sea in a liferaft is an amazing feeling; it’s why we do what we do.
‘If you are heading out to sea this winter, please check your equipment and make sure you are carrying the right safety equipment for your journey.’
The RNLI’s key safety advice for anyone visiting the coast or venturing further out to sea is:
· Whether you’re walking along the coast, out on the sea, or flying a plane, always have a means to call for help in an emergency.
· If you are out on the water or further offshore, you might not be able to get a signal on your mobile, so more specialist equipment may be needed to ensure that you can alert the authorities and have them come rescue you, should you need it.
· More information about how to call for help at sea can be found on RNLI.org here.
To see more dramatic rescue footage from the RNLI catch the final episode of this series of Saving Lives at Sea on BBC TWO this Thursday at 7pm, or catch up on iPlayer.
To donate to the RNLI’s lifesaving work go to GoDonate.org/RNLI
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.