Duty Press Notice No: 8
Sunday, ,
FALMOUTH COASTGUARD RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY BEACON OF MAN ROWING ATLANTIC OCEAN
Falmouth Coastguard are currently co-ordinating the response to an emergency beacon which was set off 230 miles west of Ireland by a rowing boat.
The rower, Nenad Bilic set off in his boat, ''The Lun'' on 11 May from Cape Cod on the West Coast of America, heading for Bantry Bay in Ireland. His Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was set off at 9.30 pm this evening and since that time Falmouth Coastguard have been attempting to contact him via his satellite telephone without success (he appears to have it switched off).
The Coastguard have requested an RAF Nimrod to go to the position of the EPIRB in the hope of finding Dr Bilic and it has just arrived on scene and commenced searching. In addition the RAF rescue helicopter R169 from Chivenor is on its way to Ireland to act as a forward base and two merchant vessels are also making their way to the scene in order to assist with any search.
Syd Turner, Deputy District Controller at Falmouth Coastguard said:
"Skies are clear at the moment at the scene with a full moon which is good for searching. However, there are south westerly gale force 7-8 winds on scene."
Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
Dr Bilic, 62 is a retired Chicago cardiologist who wants to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone in a rowing boat.
Belic''s red cedar boat, measuring 21 feet long by 5 feet wide, is mostly enclosed to protect him from sun and salt sores. A canopy permits him to look about. The oars stick out of ports on either side of the vessel.
For further information about Nenad Bilic and his journey are available at http://www.oceanrowing.com
