HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-09-07, Page 20Wednesday, September 7, 2011 • Signal -Star 19
ast Guard repsonds to save desperate sailor
nderville
y
-duty Commanding
d crew at the Coast
tation in Goderich
nerves of steel and
rescuing a sailor in
ti Lake Huron Sunday
11 for help cam e in
he same time that a
tl tornado ripped
1w town of Goderich,
e man and injuring 37
1 he tornado packed
up to 300 kilometres
as it roared through
before 4 p.n.
tilt male aboard the:
iling vessel Rltie Eyes
Marine Con rnunica-
Traffic Services. Centre
directly using '"16 on
ar phone. The sailor
ht in a heavy squall
re between Goderich
t Clark and needed
hike it back to shore.
ills vessel was taking on water.
The Joint Rescue Coordination
Centre (JRCC) in "Trenton was
alerted and while briefing Com-
manding Officer Jason Johnson
at Goderich, Johnson told JRCC
he believed a tornado was in the
area. "We were getting pelted
with golf -ball sized hail," said
Johnson.
Shortly thereafter, JRCC was
advised the Goderich search
and rescue vessel CCGS Cape
Discovery was out of service due
to, amongst other debris, power
lines having fallen on the cutter,
The vessel's windows were shat-
tered, one antenna was bent,
and the port aft stanchion (a
safety railing) was ripped off.
Despite the disarray, the crew
managed to get their 754 zodiac
operational, removing shattered
glass and shingles from the fast
rescue craft. Grew members
Jana Lorbetski and Brad Kear-
ley ventured out into two to
three -metre seas with winds at
35 knots to the Port Albert area,
where the sailor was .frantically
bailing water from.his vessel.
In the meantime, CO Johnson
and Engineer Enda O'Kelly
were dealing with the damage
to the cutter.
Canadian Coast Guard Auxil-
iary members aboard the Mysis
2 were also tasked to the
stranded sailor. When the Aux-
iliary arrived on scene and
reported they were running low
on fuel, they stood by until the
Coast Guard's fast rescue craft
arrived to rescue the sailor and
tow the sailboat safely back to
shore. The tow took nearly two
hours to complete. The sailor,
from Waterloo, was taken back
to the harbour and drove home.
Danny Coultis at the Joint
Rescue Coordination Centre in
Trenton credits the entire crew
of CCGS Cape Discovery for
their outstanding work and
service delivery under extraor-
dinary circumstances. "It is to
be noted the crew worked all
night to effect repairs to CCGS
Cape Discovery, having it oper-
ational the next day,' said
Co.ultis.
"I think we handled it very
well considering the very diffi-
cult circumstances. My crew
showed excellent control and
calmness throughout this dis-
aster," noted CO Johnson.
Goderich is a home away
from.hoine for the crew of CCGS Cape
Discovery, and they have witnessed
first-hand the impact and the devasta-
tion of the tornado- not only on the
town's buildings but most impor-
tantly, on the people who live there.
They wish to advise their fellow UFC)/
CCG employees that donations to the
relief effort can he made through the
Red Cross and Salvation Army. The
Salvation Army Disaster Food Pro-
gram (1.800.725.2769) is used to feed
community members and responders
affected by the tornado and subse-
quent clean-up operations. A sepa-
rate fund will be announced shortly to
assist in rebuilding efforts for the.
Town of Goderich.
WM Agency
The Canadian Coast Guard's Search and Rescue team in Goderich. From left to right:
Seaman Brad Kearley, CO Jason Johnson, Seaman Jana Lorbetski and Engineer Enda
O' Ke l ly
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