Kite surfer and diver rescued last night

Thursday 03 September 2015

A kite surfer and a diver had to be rescued last night in two incidents that firefighters say could have turned out to be serious emergencies.

A jetskier has been commended by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service for rescuing the female kite surfer who got into difficulties near Elizabeth Castle at around 7 pm, and hours later the inshore rescue boat was called out to search for a diver who had gone missing.

Firefighters have issued a public warning to Islanders to check the weather and tides and make sure they’ve got glow-sticks with them before venturing out in the sea.

The female kite surfer, who hasn’t been in the Island long and isn’t used to the tides and the high winds, had got herself stuck on reefs near Elizabeth Castle earlier in the evening, and was unable to make it back to shore.

Although the rescue boat was on its way to her, a recreational jetskier had already stepped in and managed to help her back to shore.

And then the Coastguard got another call just after 11pm from a man who had lost his dive buddy on the North Coast.

The diver was stuck near rocks in high tide and swell conditions, and when he was picked up he had been in the water for over an hour and was "evidently tired and suffering from cramp".

Firefighters say both rescues could have been more serious and are advising people to get accurate weather and tide information from the Jersey Coastguard website.