Man adrift on homemade raft rescued
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
23.07.2015 16:35
The Maritime Unit of the Polish Border Guard has rescued a 24-year-old man from Szczecin who had been adrift on a homemade raft for several days on the Baltic Sea.
The 24-year-old, shortly before he was rescued. Photo: Morski Oddział Straży Granicznej
The Border Guard's online service has stated that the man is “immensely lucky”.
However, the 24-year-old claimed that he did not need assistance, in spite of the fact that his vessel, which was made from wooden pallets and plastic barrels, had started to fall apart.
Previously, passing boats had reported encountering a peculiar vessel, noting that the sailor had not wanted help.
The Border Guard spent two days looking for the drifter, using both planes and boats, although bad weather hampered visibility.
He was eventually located some 11 km north-east of the port of Świnoujscie.
According to the rescuers, the 24-year-old “spoke reluctantly and gave the impression of being dehydrated and emaciated by the many hours he had spent sailing.”
In a later interview, he said that he had become depressed by his domestic situation in Szczecin, and that this had prompted him to set sail. (nh)
Source: morski.strazgraniczna.pl