Small Craft Group

This week has seen a UK 999 call from a concerned wife leading to a successful major SAR operation in the Mediterranean.

Jayesh Patel, 43, and a Belgian colleague - both experienced sailors - had left Majorca for Tarragona, Spain, on 12 November.

But within hours of setting off, the 44 ft motorboat Umbalika capsized in rough seas and sank before the crew could make a mayday call.

The pair were only rescued after Mr Patel's wife raised the alarm from their home in London the following day - because she had not heard from him in 24 hrs.

She was put through to the Thames Coastguard, where staff alerted the International Coastguard Liaison Station at Falmouth, Cornwall, and a message was relayed to Spanish Coastguards.

A MCA spokesman commented 'No one was aware of the problem until the sailor's wife dialled 999 . . she provided a lot of information about them, their boat and their plans'.

A 20,000 sq km air and sea search was launched, and the pair were eventually picked up after spending 4 days and 3 nights in the life raft.  A rescue ship found them 4.5 miles from the island of Sa Dragonera, off the W coast of Majorca, on 15 November.

They survived on emergency rations of dry biscuits and drinking water.

The MCA spokesman added 'One of the lessons is that if you have any concerns about anyone anywhere at sea then tell the authorities and something can be done, no matter where you are'.

Details from The Telegraph