Royal Navy Finds Missing Diver After Mayday Call

A Royal Navy crew has helped save the life of a missing diver off the south coast of the UK.

Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne was on a routine maritime security patrol when they responded to a Coastguard mayday call.

Tyne arrived in the area in Lyme Bay - around four miles off the coast of Seatown, Dorset – within 45 minutes of the alarm being raised.

The ship joined lifeboats and Coastguard helicopters, a dive boat and local fishing vessels, quickly heading to the last known location of the diver to conduct a visual search.

After 20 minutes HMS Tyne's Sub Lieutenant Andrew Boyle spotted the diver.

Tyne then radioed the location through to the Exmouth lifeboat crew who found the diver alive and well, with no medical attention necessary.

Lieutenant Nick Ward, the Executive Officer of HMS Tyne, said:

“This incident is a great example of how versatile the vessels of the Offshore Patrol Squadron are.

“We are always concerned for the safety of our fellow mariners at sea, thankfully Sub Lieutenant Boyle spotted the diver and we were able to play a key part in recovering him quickly.”

Last month, HMS Tyne was one of several Royal Navy vessels that shadowed Russian warships after "unusually high levels of activity" over a period of around a week in the Channel and North Sea.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said: “[The diver] had been diving without a buddy and adrift for two hours in which time he floated three miles from his last reported location. He had surfaced safely but lost sight of the dive vessel after his line became detached.”

Exmouth RNLI Deputy Coxswain, Roger Jackson, said:

"The diver was very lucky indeed and although I’m very pleased the outcome was good, I would urge everyone to please heed the latest government Coronavirus instructions.”

HMS Tyne has now returned to conducting maritime security operations.

Cover image: Royal Navy.