The National Maritime Authority, through the Captain of the Port and Local Commander of the Maritime Police of Funchal, coordinated the rescue of a 42-year-old Polish man, who was in difficulties near Seixal beach.
Following an alert received on the 12th of October at 18:39 by the victim’s wife, informing the authorities that her husband had gone snorkeling and had not returned. On receiving the distress call searches were immediately initiated and coordinated by the Captain of the Port and Local Commander of the Maritime Police of Funchal, by a team of Unmanned Aerial Systems of the Operational Command of Madeira, and by land by the officers from the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Funchal and the Volunteer Firefighters of São Vicente.
The victim was located by the Unmanned Aerial Systems team of the Operational Command of Madeira, in a difficult area to access and it was decided, due to the sea conditions that the victim had to remain where he was until they could access the area in daylight. Food, a thermal blanket, and a flashlight were sent to the man via drone. The drone was further used to communicate and ensure the man’s safety throughout the night.
At dawn this morning, October the 13th, one of the lifeboat crew members managed to reach the victim, remaining with him until the arrival of a Portuguese Air Force Air Sea Rescue helicopter. Sea conditions made it impossible for the man to be safely rescued via boat.
Once on land, the man was transported to hospital.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM Archive
