“The officers should be recognized for their bravery – they don’t just nick criminals, they save people’s lives.
“We sailed for six to seven hours in good conditions but then the water started whipping up and, when we turned into the Crouch, the wind caught the tender (dinghy) on the front of Samphire, the jib sheet broke, the ropes got tangled and water started pouring through the hatch.
“I became exhausted very quickly and sent a PAN-PAN. I didn’t want to call for assistance because the airwaves were busy but I had no choice.
“The Essex Police Marine Unit turned up out of the blue – I wasn’t expecting them at all.
“I can’t express my gratitude and appreciation enough. I feel like my life has been saved.”
Sgt Southgate added that the storm saw waves crashing over the Samphire, making their approach dangerous.
“It was a very windy day,” he said.
“Large waves were crashing over Samphire, making our approach particularly dangerous, but PC Perry’s skill and judgment at the helm enabled him to get Sentinel safely alongside.
“He timed everything perfectly with the wave movement and the rising and falling of the yacht to allow me to safely cross over and board the yacht.
“Having done this, I was able to check the crew and ascertain that the skipper was suffering from severe sea sickness and was in a state of shock.
“Once we’d checked everything over, I was able to take control of the yacht and steer it to the safety of Brightlingsea Harbour.
“During all of this, SC Mccabe kept us in touch with Dover and our control center, which was vital.
“Shortly after I’d boarded Samphire, the Burnham-on-Crouch lifeboat and the Gunfleet Sands Windfarm crew transfer vessel attended the scene.
“It’s great to know everyone’s got each other’s back at sea.”
Due to the stormy conditions and the Samphire’s damaged sail, the journey to shore took more than two hours on rough seas instead of the 45 minutes the trip would take in normal conditions.
“The Essex Police Marine Unit’s top priority is to keep members of our marine communities safe on land and water and a key part of our role is search and rescue,” Sgt Southgate said.
“Thankfully, we were out on Operation Wave-Breaker patrols in the area that day and were able to locate Mr Harris and his partner in time.”
Essex Police’s Marine Unit runs Operation Wave-Breaker between April and September each year to tackle anti-social behavior and promote water safety, mounting high-visibility patrols along the Essex coastline to keep those in the water safe.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
