Fishing boat wreck off St Andrews Scotland

[kippers26]

youtube video of rescue in scotland

Having watched the video I think the coastguard did very liitle to rescue this man and appear to have let the locals do the rescue. I am full of praise for the locals who did a superb job. Inerested to see what other people think of this video

 

[Sandy]

Have you ever been on scene when something kicked off? You do all your can as quickly as you can while the cavalry arrive.

I suspect the CG unit is letting the local control room know what is happening, getting an ambulance, that sort of thing.

Rescues are a team effort and very often it is something that you don't see that has the biggest impact on the recovery of the casualty.

 

[Davy_S]

It certainly was a difficult situation, i think the real heroes were the lads that went into the water and kept the casualty from getting a battering against the rocks.

 

[ridgy]

He'd have been better off staying on the boat until proper help arrived. The locals made a bad situation worse. Fancy pulling him directly to the pier to get battered when there was no mechanism in place of getting him up. At least pull him inshore to the base of the pier where there is much calmer water.

 

[boomerangben]

Let’s not go down the trial by you tube route. My comment is that to question the action of anyone in such a video is highly inappropriate and a bit offensive. If you weren’t there you are not qualified to comment. If you were there you should know better and not comment.

Well done to the team of people who effected the rescue (on scene and behind) and speedy recovery to the casualty

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've been there several times by land (the harbour isn't suitable for my fin keel!). At low tide, that whole area is a rock platform, with ridges and furrows of rock. It would have been very easy for the wreck to have been rolled by an incoming wave; in the video it came very close as it was. Also, the wheelhouse was loose, and a potential danger. I think that it would have been just as dangerous for the casualty to remain on board; the boat wasn't afloat; it was completely swamped. Also, I think that the casualty may well have sustained an injury while aboard; his left leg looked badly contused around the knee. By drawing him near the pier they brought him into calmer water where able-bodied people could reach him and assist him into a harness.

Note also that the video was taken using a very long focal length, with the flattening of field implicit in such videos.

My first reaction was "Why didn't he stay on board" too, but I think that on-the-spot judgment made the right call.

 

[Nosher]

I really hope that I've just been unlucky, but in my neck of the woods the volunteer coastguard don't always cover themselves in glory. I once picked up a couple of guys who'd tipped up a mile or so offshore, ran them back into the harbour, including the overturned wooden, clinker sailing dinghy which was much too nice to abandon, and straight into the arms of the CG rescue team who'd been called by a concerned onlooker. The boat owners were suffering from nothing more than being a bit damp and cold, and feeling a somewhat sheepish. Being then thoroughly patronised and ticked off, in a very public setting by the volunteer team was both entirely unnecessary and unprofessional. They then told me that I shouldn't have got involved and should have waited for the lifeboat - I'm no expert but I've been working at sea on and off since I was 17 and kind of know my way about a boat - which was also a little uncalled for, in my view.
Like I say, I certainly wouldn't tar all volunteers with the same brush and I'm sure their intentions are good, but whether it's because they're forced to stick to a strict regime of training and protocols, or whether it's because donning the uniform makes them feel a teeny bit empowered and important at times, there are occasions when, as a fellow boater, your instinct is likely to be to stop fannying about with clipboards and just help the poor sod who's in bother.

 

[Mister E]

I just watched the whole video, it seemed to me a group of organised men who were undertaking a rescue when the coastguard arrived.
As we don't know what was said to organise the rescue we don't know who contributed what.

 

[Sandy]

I just watched the whole video, it seemed to me a group of organised men who were undertaking a rescue when the coastguard arrived.
As we don't know what was said to organise the rescue we don't know who contributed what.

Nor do we know who was in the group of 'locals'.

A few years ago my brother and I were in a carpark in Glencoe. A woman stumbled passed me and fell. Both my brother and rendered First Aid, it was clear that the lady had a broken collar bone, just like magic this chap appeared and said, 'I'm a doctor', and we breathed a sigh of relief.

 

[SaltIre]

The narrative on YouTube says two men were rescued, and it seems as if one was pulled up the harbour wall before the start of the video.
This is from 2:30 in...


There's certainly 2 POB in the video on the local news site, which also says two were rescued. It starts earlier than the YouTube clip.

The boat sank after it ran aground after being engulfed with waves just next to the town’s harbour. It shows the two crew members in the water trying to save their vessel before making for the harbour wall. Above, onlookers help to pull them up to safety
Two lifeboats from Broughty Ferry were dispatched to the scene and they were joined by a helicopter which was not required. Two ambulances were also summoned.
St Andrews rescue: watch dramatic video as two rescued by onlookers as boat runs aground

 

[SaltIre]

Video showing the first rescue:

 

[jimmcgee]

what a shambles , Captain Mainwaring comes to mind !!

 

[LittleSister]

I was impressed by how far, and how close to the casualty, the life-ring was thrown in the video in post #1.

 

[William_H]

I really hope that I've just been unlucky, but in my neck of the woods the volunteer coastguard don't always cover themselves in glory. I once picked up a couple of guys who'd tipped up a mile or so offshore, ran them back into the harbour, including the overturned wooden, clinker sailing dinghy which was much too nice to abandon, and straight into the arms of the CG rescue team who'd been called by a concerned onlooker. The boat owners were suffering from nothing more than being a bit damp and cold, and feeling a somewhat sheepish. Being then thoroughly patronised and ticked off, in a very public setting by the volunteer team was both entirely unnecessary and unprofessional. They then told me that I shouldn't have got involved and should have waited for the lifeboat - I'm no expert but I've been working at sea on and off since I was 17 and kind of know my way about a boat - which was also a little uncalled for, in my view.
Like I say, I certainly wouldn't tar all volunteers with the same brush and I'm sure their intentions are good, but whether it's because they're forced to stick to a strict regime of training and protocols, or whether it's because donning the uniform makes them feel a teeny bit empowered and important at times, there are occasions when, as a fellow boater, your instinct is likely to be to stop fannying about with clipboards and just help the poor sod who's in bother.

An absolute top priority for all would be rescuers is personal safety of rescuers. Hence training and procedures are vital. Due to being called into dangerous situations more often they must be super careful.
There have been many cases in Oz where a swimmer will go into the surf to rescue people only to perish them selves. In that case you just can't launch into water without buoyancy aid unless you are a really good swimmer.
So certainly there is no reason to tick off the rescued party. (the errors must be obvious) Perhaps the CG team believed you were in danger in performing the rescue. Obviously only you knew if it was dangerous or not. They did not. Plus I am sure they wanted the glory them selves. (human nature)
In nay case you did well so just know that. ol'will

 

[ylop]

I was impressed by how far, and how close to the casualty, the life-ring was thrown in the video in post #1.

Indeed - I’m not sure who the various people are in orange but it felt like that wasn’t their first time throwing a lifering.

It’s tempting to criticise the CG rescue “team” but what is it we actually expected them to do. Near the end of the video some turn up in dry suits and Bouyancy aids - those guys are training and equipped for moving water rescue. The guys in blue boiler suits are almost certainly trained not to enter the water themselves in these situations but to be the eyes of the CG directing assets where needed (eg very clear instruction to the lifeboat might save a minute going the wrong side of the wall or checking the boat first etc).

Whilst perhaps those who entered the water saved a life at some risk to themselves, being recovered up the harbour wall like that looked a very unpleasant experience. It did cross my mind that none of the CG people I spotted looked particularly young/dynamic/athletic - hero lifeguard types… then I looked in the mirror, remembered they are volunteers and that I don’t offer my heroic physique to go and stand in the cold and wet everytime someone says they thought they saw a flare, or to trudge along the coast looking for missing people hoping someone else makes any grim discovery…

 

[Stemar]

I'm sure the MAIB investigation will make any necessary recommendations. I wasn't there, so I'm going to go against all forum traditions and avoid speculation, just be glad the two were rescued.

 

[ylop]

I'm sure the MAIB investigation will make any necessary recommendations.

You think so? They do occasionally dig into the rescue response - but I can’t recall them doing so when everyone survived.

 

[Sandy]

what a shambles , Captain Mainwaring comes to mind !!

I'd love to understand why you think that?

Perhaps a suggestion of how things should have been done.

 

[bikedaft]

I'd love to understand why you think that?

Perhaps a suggestion of how things should have been done.

yes, i agree.

it is easy to criticise.

that water looked particularly uninviting, with waves, backwash from the waves, harbour wall and rocks to be smashed into, a potentially dangerous boat that could hit/crush you, and uneven ground etc.

i have been chewing over this vid for a couple of days, because i really do not know what else to do, unless you have a handy helicopter + winch? mob handed along the bottom of the sea wall? potentially risky. don't want any more casualties.

 

[dunedin]

yes, i agree.

it is easy to criticise.

that water looked particularly uninviting, with waves, backwash from the waves, harbour wall and rocks to be smashed into, a potentially dangerous boat that could hit/crush you, and uneven ground etc.

i have been chewing over this vid for a couple of days, because i really do not know what else to do, unless you have a handy helicopter + winch? mob handed along the bottom of the sea wall? potentially risky. don't want any more casualties.

A few years back the rescue helicopter was based pretty much next door at RAF Leuchars. Not sure where closest chopper is now.
Certainly a nasty set of rock ledges that side of the harbour wall. Wonder if some of the people involved in trying to help were other local fishermen?