VIDEO: Fire Service boat out of action after being damaged in dramatic rescue

Monday 22 August 2016

Jersey Fire Service’s inshore rescue craft will be out of action for up to two weeks whilst repairs are carried out after it was damaged in Saturday night’s rescue off the Island’s south east coast.

Fortunately the service has two boats so it will still be able to respond to any call outs.

Director of Emergency Response, Martin Allix says: “the engine prop for this boat was damaged at launch; as the sea sucked out from underneath, it brought the boat down on top of the rock heads.”

Video footage released by the Fire Service earlier today shows just how bad conditions were when they were called to search for Joy Godfray on Saturday night.

RNLI press officer, Jonathan Lee said: "there was a force seven 'near gale' during the rescue, with wind speeds of up to 40mph." As well as the high tides and strong winds, the search was carried out in near pitch-black conditions.

Jersey's Harbour Master, Captain Phillip Buckley has praised the team for its work: "I would like to highlight the courage and professionalism of all those involved in her rescue [Joy Godfray] in the appalling conditions on our south coast on Saturday night. This event is an all too tragic reminder of the perils of the seas around our coastline. Jersey’s beautiful beaches mask a range of lurking hazards generated by one of the highest tidal ranges in Europe, which are made more dangerous in poor weather. I urge everyone taking to the water for whatever reason to take the hazards and warnings seriously so that we avoid any further unnecessary loss of life.”