Helicopter rescue for boater......
- Thread starter Superflid
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bdsweeting
Well-Known Member
Ooopps
M
MarkG
Guest
I just don't believe it...
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
You have to be careful of these floodwaters, especially during what is now being referred to as a 'Wet Drought'.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Didn't he want to get wet then?
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
you certainly don't want to get into the water on a weir when a canal or river is in flood.
You'll get pinned against the rails by the force of the water if they have garbage traps, or get sucked into the rotating water at the base and held under the water. You should see the white water canoeists downstream of some of the weirs on the Thames when it's in flood, you'd never believe they were on the Thames!
If the river is running at say 6knts, where it's funnelled into the weir, you could easily double that, maybe more, depending on the weir and how wide it and river are at that point. The canal wouldn't have been running at that rate, but you still don't take weirs at face value
You'll get pinned against the rails by the force of the water if they have garbage traps, or get sucked into the rotating water at the base and held under the water. You should see the white water canoeists downstream of some of the weirs on the Thames when it's in flood, you'd never believe they were on the Thames!
If the river is running at say 6knts, where it's funnelled into the weir, you could easily double that, maybe more, depending on the weir and how wide it and river are at that point. The canal wouldn't have been running at that rate, but you still don't take weirs at face value
RogerRat
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
'Wet Drought'.
[/ QUOTE ] /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Definition:"A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions." (looked it up)
I was gonna water the garden with the hose today but it was too wet to go outside!
Just had supper after a large dinner tonight. I 've eaten so much much I'm starving! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
'Wet Drought'.
[/ QUOTE ] /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Definition:"A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions." (looked it up)
I was gonna water the garden with the hose today but it was too wet to go outside!
Just had supper after a large dinner tonight. I 've eaten so much much I'm starving! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
rickp
Well-Known Member
I know someone who was rowing down the Trent (oh the shame /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) when a barge went over Averham weir. They suddenly found the river running upstream (ie. the wrong way). Caused a few moments of panic.
Likewise, I had a few entertaining moments coming from the Soar past Thrumpton Weir in a slightly underpower narrowboat (oh dear, more shame!) when the river was quite high. Felt like we were inching away from the weir....
Rick
Likewise, I had a few entertaining moments coming from the Soar past Thrumpton Weir in a slightly underpower narrowboat (oh dear, more shame!) when the river was quite high. Felt like we were inching away from the weir....
Rick
boatone
Well-Known Member
The trouble with weirs.........
Not everybody may know this but the guy who runs Lee Sanitation of marine loos and pump out station fame , Chris Coburn, is a legendary narrowboat enthusiast with his NB Progress. He has campaigned long and intrepidly and with significant success for the restoration of inland waterways by taking Progress where most would be feared to go, including cross channel to Brussels.
A few years ago he fell foul of a weir on an east coast river.........
Not everybody may know this but the guy who runs Lee Sanitation of marine loos and pump out station fame , Chris Coburn, is a legendary narrowboat enthusiast with his NB Progress. He has campaigned long and intrepidly and with significant success for the restoration of inland waterways by taking Progress where most would be feared to go, including cross channel to Brussels.
A few years ago he fell foul of a weir on an east coast river.........
office_sailor
Well-Known Member
Re: The trouble with weirs.........
I've just read the BBC report - what is an RAF Seacat chopper? Maybe it has rotors and twin wave piercing hulls...
I've just read the BBC report - what is an RAF Seacat chopper? Maybe it has rotors and twin wave piercing hulls...
peterandjeanette
Well-Known Member
Re: The trouble with weirs.........
Is it just me, or does the site of ANY vessel in distress (with the possible exception of robos) invoke feelings of "what can I do to help"?
(Having just said what I did about robos I once pulled a young lad out of the Thames when his robo overturned about 100 yards ahead of me. We dried him down, righted his boat, then followed him all the way back to his club. Not once was there a rescue boat in sight.)
Is it just me, or does the site of ANY vessel in distress (with the possible exception of robos) invoke feelings of "what can I do to help"?
(Having just said what I did about robos I once pulled a young lad out of the Thames when his robo overturned about 100 yards ahead of me. We dried him down, righted his boat, then followed him all the way back to his club. Not once was there a rescue boat in sight.)
SoulFireMage
Well-Known Member
Re: The trouble with weirs.........
I remember on our very first experience of taking Silver Lady out of the nice safe upper Thames and out onto the estuary, having to pickup and tow a jetski who'd conked out. In the middle of the estuary. We were quite nervous as we'd only had her a couple of months and were still learning basic stuff. However the tow went fine.
I could not have left him I know that LOL.
I remember on our very first experience of taking Silver Lady out of the nice safe upper Thames and out onto the estuary, having to pickup and tow a jetski who'd conked out. In the middle of the estuary. We were quite nervous as we'd only had her a couple of months and were still learning basic stuff. However the tow went fine.
I could not have left him I know that LOL.
office_sailor
Well-Known Member
Re: The trouble with weirs.........
I recall towing a jet ski which had broken down. As we approached the berth, I pulled him alongside to piggy back him in, when one of his lunatic mates on a jet ski thought it would be fun to scream by very close and soak us. His wash smashed the jetski into the hull of my vessel, and up into the rubbing strake, which had a few nasty bolts protruding down from it. I had no damage, but the jet ski had a series of nice holes punched into it. Natural justice!
I recall towing a jet ski which had broken down. As we approached the berth, I pulled him alongside to piggy back him in, when one of his lunatic mates on a jet ski thought it would be fun to scream by very close and soak us. His wash smashed the jetski into the hull of my vessel, and up into the rubbing strake, which had a few nasty bolts protruding down from it. I had no damage, but the jet ski had a series of nice holes punched into it. Natural justice!
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Is it just me that thinks a helicopter looks a bit OTT to "rescue" someone who is sitting on his undamaged boat in a canal looking rather bored and probably a tad embarrassed.
I'd have though an inflatable with an outboard would have been much better use of public money than scrambling a chopper at umpteen thousand pounds an hour?
I'd have though an inflatable with an outboard would have been much better use of public money than scrambling a chopper at umpteen thousand pounds an hour?
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
I thought the same but apparently we are very wrong and it's a dangerous place. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
So you are floating down onto the edge of the Niagra falls as your engine has failed. Luckily you get stuck just on some rocks on the lip and avoid going over. The emergency services have to get you off. Would they send a helicopter or a boat? God help the poor idiot they send out in the boat, as he'd have to get it perfect first time to avoid going over
OK, a bit more extreme but the same applies.
Even seasoned river boaters don't like going near weirs, and on many parts of canals, there are no high powered ribs, just lots of other underpowered canal going vessels that are just not designed for rescue missions. If you want to try a rescue mission in a narrow boat to take a person off a boat on a weir - try asking hlb how those river based craft handle.
A rib would have had to be brought by trailer, as it would be quicker than bringing one up by canal through many locks, even if they could find one. Not many on canals, and no rescue ones. Probably take many hours to organise. In the meantime the helicopter could take him off in safety and quickly in under an hour.
Does anyone actually think through the practicalities of these things before they start posting?
OK, a bit more extreme but the same applies.
Even seasoned river boaters don't like going near weirs, and on many parts of canals, there are no high powered ribs, just lots of other underpowered canal going vessels that are just not designed for rescue missions. If you want to try a rescue mission in a narrow boat to take a person off a boat on a weir - try asking hlb how those river based craft handle.
A rib would have had to be brought by trailer, as it would be quicker than bringing one up by canal through many locks, even if they could find one. Not many on canals, and no rescue ones. Probably take many hours to organise. In the meantime the helicopter could take him off in safety and quickly in under an hour.
Does anyone actually think through the practicalities of these things before they start posting?
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
I always thought that the rescue services, being the experts, tended to assess the situation and deal with it as they think most appropriate given the circumstances and the resources available. I don't think I'd be very happy if I put out a mayday and the CG said, "we'll stick this one on the ybw forum for a couple of hours and see if anyone can come up with a bright idea involving some string and sticky back plastic."
rickp
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
A rib would have had to be brought by trailer, as it would be quicker than bringing one up by canal through many locks, even if they could find one. Not many on canals, and no rescue ones. Probably take many hours to organise. In the meantime the helicopter could take him off in safety and quickly in under an hour.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think most Fire Brigades in the vicinity of water have ribs they can call upon pretty swiftly for such work. Certainly we've come across various Brigades practicing on bits of canal on a few of our trips. (One lot were really friendly and let the kids (much smaller then) climb all over the fire engine whilst we had our lunch stop /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
However, the emergency services know what they have available and the timescales to deploy and will have made an informed decision, as you say. Weirs are not to be triffled with.
Rick
A rib would have had to be brought by trailer, as it would be quicker than bringing one up by canal through many locks, even if they could find one. Not many on canals, and no rescue ones. Probably take many hours to organise. In the meantime the helicopter could take him off in safety and quickly in under an hour.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think most Fire Brigades in the vicinity of water have ribs they can call upon pretty swiftly for such work. Certainly we've come across various Brigades practicing on bits of canal on a few of our trips. (One lot were really friendly and let the kids (much smaller then) climb all over the fire engine whilst we had our lunch stop /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
However, the emergency services know what they have available and the timescales to deploy and will have made an informed decision, as you say. Weirs are not to be triffled with.
Rick
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Did you look at the picture, its not quite the same as hanging off the edge of Niagra falls! The guy looks like he's modelling for a C&A catalogue rather than fearing for his life. Why do you need a high powered RIB, I was thinking an inflatable with a 5 hp outboard, which the emergency services keep for just such situations. I'd have thought motoring a few yards in an inflatable, getting the guy in then motoring a few yards back to the bank is less risky for all involved than winching him up by helicopter. The inflatable could be left attached to a tether in case the outboard fails.
Anyway I'm sure the emergency services know what they're doing better than I do, and maybe they class it as good training for more tricky rescues. Or maybe I just don't quite understand the perilous nature of extreme high adrenaline river barging /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Anyway I'm sure the emergency services know what they're doing better than I do, and maybe they class it as good training for more tricky rescues. Or maybe I just don't quite understand the perilous nature of extreme high adrenaline river barging /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
whisper
Well-Known Member
Just to add some more detail to this, from local scources, a line/s was taken to the narrowboat by two canoeists who were there at the time. This was to prevent the boat from going past the boom and onto the top of the weir.
Like others I'm surprised that they then didn't let an inflatable, on a line, drift down to the boat to take the man off.
Still, I wasn't there.
Like others I'm surprised that they then didn't let an inflatable, on a line, drift down to the boat to take the man off.
Still, I wasn't there.
