John

Quick-witted crew on P&O Ferries’ European Seaway came to the rescue of a windsurfer who got into difficulty whilst trying to sail across the Channel.
The Belgian man was spotted in the water by lookouts on the ship’s bridge and was saved by the ferry’s fast rescue boat.
It turned out that he had been in the water for an hour and a half, after losing contact with another windsurfer and a support boat attempting to get from Wissant to Dover.
Captain Bob Case was in command of the European Seaway when the incident took place on Saturday lunchtime and said that the rescued man was very lucky indeed.
“The wind was from the south west blowing force five to six, so there was enough of a chop on the water to make the chances of him being seen pretty slim. Launching our rescue boat in such conditions always carries an element of risk to those who volunteer to man it, in this case Bosun Paul Wickings, Deckhand Neil Bossom and Deck Petty Officer Arthur Devlin. They did an excellent job, as did the entire ship’s company who responded to the highest standard,” said Captain Case.
The rescued man was taken to Calais on the ferry, apparently none the worse for wear, where he was reunited with the rest of his group.

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