RACE UPDATE 3: Wylde Swan engineer tragically lost at sea
16:15, Thursday 11 July 2013
Volunteer crew member Koen van Gogh from Wylde Swan (Netherlands) went missing at sea today, at the centre of the southern tip of í_land and Hoburgen, Gotland’s southern tip. He had volunteered to assist in the rescue operation of Class B vessel Wyvern (Norway), which sank this morning while taking part in The Tall Ships Races 2013 from Aarhus to Helsinki.
The crew of ten on board Wyvern were all air-lifted to safety.
Assisting vessel Wylde Swan states in their incident report that they responded to a MAYDAY call from Wyvern because they were in the vicinity. The cargo vessel Hercules J, two Sweden Rescue helicopters and two Sweden Rescue boats were also helping at the scene.
Three volunteer crew members from Wylde Swan went on board Wyvern to attempt to reduce the water level using pumps supplied by the rescue services. However, Wyvern was very low in the water at this stage and observers could see that she was going down. Wylde Swan ordered their assisting volunteer crew members to abandon Wyvern urgently – two crew members managed to leave the vessel but, Koen van Gogh, could not be found.
Despite an extensive, three hour search and rescue operation the crew member has not been located and the rescue vessels have now left the scene.
Christer Samuelsson, Chairman of The Tall Ships Races 2013 said, äóìIt is with deep sadness that we learnt about today’ tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with Koen’ family and friends at this difficult time. This news will come as a great shock to all the captains and crews of the Tall Ships taking part, as well as the wider international sail training ‘family’.
“Sail Training International would like to thank the Swedish Maritime Rescue Services who successfully air-lifted the crew of Wyvern to shore earlier this morning and for their efforts and effective related communications in searching for, Koen van Gogh, the missing crew member from Wylde Swan.äó
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