AN ELDERLY man and a young girl who had to be rescued after getting into difficulty while sailing were lucky to be alive according to lifeboatmen.
The pair were reported missing at 8.20pm yesterday (Monday) by concerned relatives, five hours after they had set sail in a 12-foot dinghy from near Wheeler’s Bay, Ventnor.
The Coastguard helicopter was called to search the area, but the pair were eventually spotted by Ventnor Coastguard about a mile-and-a-half off the coast, at Blackgang.
Bembridge lifeboat was sent to the scene and found the pair, a local man, thought to be aged around 70, and a seven or eight year old girl, on board.
There was only one lifejacket, no flares and an unreliable radio on board.
The pair were very cold, but not hypothermic, according to a spokesman for Bembridge lifeboat. They were taken back to Wheeler’s Bay, arriving at around 10.30pm.
Lifeboat coxswain Steve Simmonds said: "If they had been out there any longer then we might have been looking for two bodies.
"It might seem nice weather close to the shore, but it can get very cold very quickly on the water."
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk