British Coastguard Aids
Yacht in Panama
BBC News - The crew of a
sinking yacht in the
central American state
of Panama have had their
lives saved thanks to a
999 call thousands of
miles away in Kent,
England.
Dover Coastguard were
tipped off about the
plight of the vessel in
the Panama Canal and
scrambled their
counterparts to mount a
rescue operation.
The Kent-based
coastguard was alerted
in a telephone call from
ex-Royal Navy diver Paul
Wilkin, from Folkestone.
He said he had heard
about the mayday from a
friend on a yacht in
Panama.
"He rang me, and I
relayed that message to
Dover Coastguard... and
left it with them.
"I have heard from my
friend again since who
said that the people
managed to get onto the
reef but, by the sound
of it, the yacht was
lost."
Mr Wilkin said he did
not hesitate in calling
the coastguard to help
out with the
international rescue
because "they could be
relied upon".
Coastguard Watch
Assistant John Brewin
said Mr Wilkin had been
able to pass on the name
of the yacht and its
position, which was very
close to the Hermanas
Reef.
He said Dover Coastguard
was then able to pass it
onto their counterparts
in Panama.
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