Two Jack Russells in lifejackets lost after fishing boat capsizes

Monday 11 April 2016

Sailors and walkers have been asked to keep a look out for two Jack Russells that disappeared after the boat they were in capsized off St Catherine's Harbour on Saturday morning leaving its owners clinging to the hull in sea temperatures of less than 10 degrees for four hours.

St Catherine's Lifeboat were called out to assist a fishing boat that has capsized about a mile and a half off the breakwater with two people clinging to the hull.

Another fisherman, Mark Green, managed to get the men - thought to be Howard Durrell and a friend - onto his boat before they were transferred to the lifeboat, and taken back to shore where an ambulance was waiting.

The dogs, which were wearing lifejackets are thought to have been swept out along the East or South Coast.

Tides this weekend have been amongst the biggest of the year.

Writing on their Facebook page, The St Catherine's Lifeboat Crew said: “It became apparent that the boat had capsized 4hrs earlier at 7.30am and had drifted with the two casualties holding on to the upturned hull.

“The fisherman informed the lifeboat crew that two dogs were also on-board at the time of the capsize however the fishermen had lost sight of them when the boat overturned.

“The lifeboat crew returned to the fishing boat where another vessel was assisting to turn it back over. The lifeboat crew checked to see if the dogs were on-board and once confirmed that they were not, proceeded back to the area where the vessel overturned to search nearby rocks for them.

“A crew member was put on the shore at Seymour Tower the largest land area and searched with nothing found. The crew then proceeded to the north coast to search an area defined by the coastguard. After several hours of searching nothing was found. Members of the La Rocque boat owners conducted shoreline searches of the area but unfortunately the dogs are still missing.

“We are all pleased that the two men have survived but extremely upset that they were unable to locate the dogs.  Our thoughts are with the fisherman and their families.”

Photo credit: Terry Le Main