Sunday, April 19, 200919th, 20th & 21st April 2009
Time of Call: 1607, Time of Launch: 1625
Three persons in trouble at Lambert Beach, Tortola. Local surfer saved the two females and tried to help the male. (see official reports online)
Spirit and a VISAR auxiliary vessel arrived on scene at 1640. At 1650 Gorda Peak and local salvage vessel were also en route. Gorda Peak brought 3 divers to join the conservation & Fisheries divers, they checked the drift direction a submerged body would have taken. The Lifeguards checked the shoreline and snorkellers checked the area where the 21 year old male was last seen. Teh water was exprememly rough, so a swim line had to be sent in to help the divers out of the swells and send in fresh divers. Spirit continued a shoreline search using expert advice and swell reports. Due to light and swell conditions rescue vessels stood down at 1915.
20th April 2009 0730 St. Ursula the Marine Police boat left the dock. Local salvage company at VISAR base for briefing. 0809 Spirit launched. USCG Helicopter not available at this point. Chief Inspector of the Marine Police advised about the agencies, searches and areas being checked. Divers in the water and people searching the rocks above water. VISAR coordinator in contact with each search vessel to make sure each possible area had been searched. VISAR continued to search until 1723.
21st April 2009 Gorda Peak launched at 0930 with full dive gear onboard. As the crew prepared to tie up to the Mooring Ball, a police boat came alongside and informed the responders that the missing person had been recovered. Gorda Peak stood down.