A search helicopter from Solent has joined the operation to find a sailor still missing off the Essex and Suffolk coastline
Woman's body recovered, Felixstowe
9 June 2014
The body of a woman has been recovered from the water, off the coastline of Felixstowe, today, Monday 9 June.
A dive team from Norfolk Fire Service has been diving approximately 5 nautical miles out to sea in the location where a yacht sank yesterday, Sunday 8 June following a collision with a dredger.
Emergency services were contacted at approximately 1.30pm yesterday with a report that there had been a collision at sea.
It is understood that there were two people on board the yacht, a man and a woman, together with two dogs.
A man and a dog were recovered alive from the water and searches have been taking place to try to locate the woman.
At approximately 5pm this afternoon, a body of a woman was recovered from the sea in the area where the yacht sank.
Although formal identification has not yet taken place, it is believed the body is that of the woman who had been on board the yacht.
The second dog has not been found.
The woman’s body has been taken ashore and a post mortem examination will take place in due course.
As is usual practice the woman’s death is being treated as unexplained and the Coroner has been informed.
A joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision will now be carried between Suffolk Police and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
Search and Rescue operation off the coast of Felixstowe.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched yesterday afternoon after a yacht collided with the dredger vessel, believed to be the Shoreway measuring 98m by 22m, approximately one mile off the coast of Felixstowe.
The yacht sank within five minutes leaving a male and female sailor, plus two dogs, adrift in the North Sea.
Crew from the dredger were able to pull the man from the water, but the woman and animals could not be found.
Both Harwich lifeboats and the Walton lifeboat were joined by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Wattisham and a number of pilot boats and commercial vessels
in the search yesterday.
The Aldeburgh all-weather lifeboat joined the efforts as one lifeboat remained on the scene through-out the night scouring the extended search area.
It has been joined this morning by a Coastguard search helicopter from the Solent as search organisers prepare to step-up operations again this morning.
The Walton lifeboat re-joined the search at first light, at 4.25am, and is due to stay out as long as possible.
Although there is no specific search zone, a lifeboat spokesman confirmed the search area had widened overnight to take into account the wind and tides.
The search rough covers a 10 sq mile area centred approximately five miles off the coast of Felixstowe.
A dive boat is also part of the search and divers hope to be able to search for wreckage during the day.
A Coastguard spokesman said: “More assets, including the aircraft, will join the search which is ongoing until further notice.”
More information about yesterday's collision between Shoreway and a yacht - here's a video animation of Shoreway's track out to sea, which also shows just how quickly other rescue craft made it to the scene:
http://youtu.be/vjyup7ZvWJ8
11.45am Update: Fire brigade dive team to join search for missing sailor off Essex/Suffolk coast
A dive team from Suffolk Fire Brigade is understood to be gearing up to hoin the search for a sailor still missing off the Essex and Suffolk coastline.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched yesterday afternoon after a yacht collided with the dredger vessel, believed to be the Shoreway measuring 98m by 22m, approximately one mile off the coast of Felixstowe.
The yacht sank within five minutes leaving a male and female sailor, plus two dogs, adrift in the North Sea.
Crew from the dredger were able to pull the man and one of the dogs from the water, but the woman and second dog could not be found.
Both Harwich lifeboats and the Walton lifeboat were joined by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Wattisham and a number of pilot boats and commercial vessels
in the search yesterday.
The Aldeburgh all-weather lifeboat joined the efforts as one lifeboat remained on the scene through-out the night scouring the extended search area.
It has been joined this morning by a Coastguard search helicopter from the Solent as search organisers prepare to step-up operations again this morning.
The Walton lifeboat re-joined the search at first light, at 4.25am, and is due to stay out as long as possible.
The Harwich lifeboat is due to return to port at approximately 1pm to refuel and replenish.
It will also take on a dive team from Suffolk Fire Brigade to search the yacht’s wreckage for clues or the missing woman.
When it re-joins the search the Walton lifeboat will refuel.
Although there is no specific search zone, a lifeboat spokesman confirmed the search area had widened overnight to take into account the wind and tides.
The search rough covers a 10 sq mile area centred approximately five miles off the coast of Felixstowe.
A Coastguard spokesman said: “More assets, including the aircraft, will join the search which is ongoing until further notice.”
This is an animation based on AIS data transmitted near Felixstowe on 8 June 2014. [Maps are copyright Map Quest and Open Street Map]
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