Freak wave capsizes boat

TWO surveyors measuring ocean currents got more than they bargained for when a freak wave capsized their boat.

Rescue services were called out yesterday morning when the men got into difficulty off the coast of Co Cork. Shortly after 10am the boat capsized near the pier at Rosscarbery.

One of the men managed to swim to shore, but his colleague had to cling to the upturned boat for more than half an hour before he was rescued.

The Castlefreke coastguard unit was scrambled as was the Toe Head coastguard boat, which eventually rescued the second man.

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat and the rescue helicopter based in Shannon were also called to the scene. But they were ordered to turn back when the Toe Head boat made contact with the man on the upturned boat.

“The two men, who were in their 30s, had been surveying ocean currents when the accident happened. A wave came along and just filled their boat,” a spokesman for the Castlefreke coastguard unit said.

“Fortunately neither of the men were injured, so we had a happy ending. This is good because there have been so many tragedies in the Rosscarbery area in recent years,” he added.

The spokesman said that both men had been wearing lifebelts, which had saved them from serious harm.