05 Jun Incident 22/045 – Teddy bear hunt after family dinghy capsizes in Portsmouth Harbour
The search is on for two lost teddies that were swept away in Portsmouth Harbour after a boat capzied and threw its crew into the water.
A man, woman and girl – aged 10 – were thrown into the sea when their dinghy rolled over near Hardway, Gosport, on Saturday, June 4.
The two female casualties were plucked from the water by a passing yacht and the male was picked up by a smaller craft which helped fish their belongings from the sea.
However, one bag, that contained two teddies, went missing during the rescue and is now being desperately sought by the family. Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service’s lifeboat and two police boats assisted the casualties.
The lifeboat was launched by HM Coastguard at around 4pm to the incident near HMS Monmouth, which is moored in Fareham Lake, Gosport.
Once on scene, the lifeboat’s paramedic crewman, Richard Brady, was transferred to the assisting vessel and assessed the casualties. He said: ‘All three of them had been in the water and the young girl had swallowed a considerable amount of sea water. ‘This can be very dangerous as there’s a risk of secondary drowning, so she was transferred to an ambulance crew who took her to hospital.’
The grandmother and grandfather were both warmed up and treated for shock.
GAFIRS lifeboat coxswain James Baggott said: ‘All three of them were very lucky a passing yacht saw what was happening and helped out.
‘The crew of that vessel should be commended for their assistance as they undoubtedly saved the situation from escalating.
‘After we assisted the family it became clear that a bag with two teddies that was much loved by the child had been lost.
‘If anyone spots it they can contact the GAFIRS team via our website and we will help reunite it with the family.’
An appeal for the missing bag and teddies has also been issued on Facebook and local mariners are requested to keep an eye out for it on the shoreline in the harbour.
The incident was one of five GAFIRS attended during the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
So far this year, the independent lifeboat service – which is not part of the RNLI – has been launched 47 times to assist with incidents in The Solent.