Two men who sparked a huge rescue operation when they went diving for scallops had travelled a combined 575 miles to do so, it emerged tod...
Two men who sparked a huge rescue operation when they went diving for scallops had travelled a combined 575 miles to do so, it emerged today.
The friends had driven from Edinburgh in Scotland and Cornwall to meet up in Bridport, Dorset.
They launched their own boat from West Bay and 47-year-old man from Cornwall went diving five miles out.
He became detached from his marker buoy which was later discovered by the other man, also in his 40s, who contacted the coastguard.
The friends met up in Bridport, Dorset to dive for scallops when one was detached from his marker buoy
Exmouth's lifeboat was alerted by H.M. Coastguard around 3.45pm on Saturday to reports of the missing diver four miles off the coast of Seatown, Dorset.
A major search and rescue operation involving two helicopters, the coastguard, RNLI lifeboats, several fishing boats and a Royal Navy ship swung into action.
The missing diver had surfaced safely but lost sight of the vessel after his line was detached.
He was luckily spotted by an eagle-eyed sailor onboard HMS Tyne.
The boat was on routine maritime security patrols when it responded to the Mayday call.
The man had been adrift for two hours when he was found three miles from his last reported location
The friends had driven from Edinburgh in Scotland and Cornwall to meet up in Bridport, a combined 575 miles
The man had been adrift for two hours when he was found three miles from his last reported location.
He was picked up by the Exmouth lifeboat and didn't need medical attention.
Both men were met by police once on shore and fined £60 each from breaching coronavirus restrictions.
The diver, who did not want to be named, said: 'I came up to the surface with my bag of scallops and was shouting at the guy in the boat but the swell had picked up, the waves were bigger and he was up wind so couldn't hear me.
The missing diver had surfaced safely but lost sight of the vessel after his line was detached. He was luckily spotted by an eagle-eyed sailor on-board HMS Tyne
'I saw the helicopter fly over and some of the other boats searching. I was very relieved when the lifeboat crew arrived and pulled me out o the water. Thank you to everyone involved.'
A spokesman for the Lyme Regis RNLI said the diver was 'embarrassed and apologetic' afterwards.
Operations manager Nick Marks added: 'We are glad that the diver is safe and well however the RNLI is recommending that you should not go in or near the water during this lockdown.'
Exmouth RNLI deputy coxswain Roger Jackson said: 'The diver was very fortunate to have been located safe and well so quickly.'
He added: 'We are grateful for the invaluable assistance of our RNLI colleagues from Lyme Regis, the crew of HMS Tyne, Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team, the HM Coastguard helicopter and other vessels in the area that came together in a coordinated effort that led to this successful rescue.
Slt Boyle spotted the diver in the water who had been adrift for two hours
A spokesman for the Lyme Regis RNLI said the diver was 'embarrassed and apologetic' afterwards
'The diver was very lucky indeed and although I'm very pleased the outcome was good, I would urge everyone to please heed the latest government coronavirus restrictions.'
A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: 'Both of those onboard had been diving as a leisure activity and were fined by the police as were deemed to have been in breach of the lockdown guidance.
'The Government has been clear that during this coronavirus pandemic we need to Stay Home Save Lives.
'Leisure diving is not essential and every 999 call made could put our frontline responders at risk of COVID-19 and places avoidable pressure on our vital NHS services.'
Members of the public slammed the pair on social media for their irresponsible actions and called for them to be hit with a bill for the cost of the rescue.
Paula Jayne said: 'Well done everyone. I really do feel that at this time the diver should pay for the services that were used.
'Totally irresponsible behaviour. Diving can't be used as an excuse for exercise, it's a hobby.'
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