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Southern
146/01
1 October 2001
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING
ATLANTIC ROWER
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Nenad
Belic
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Falmouth Coastguard
are continuing to co-ordinate the search for the missing American
Atlantic rower, 62 year old retired Chicago cardiologist Nenad
Belic, after an emergency beacon was set off 230 miles west of
Ireland.
The RAF rescue helicopter that was scrambled from
Chivenor identified the light of the emergency position-indicating
radio beacon (EPIRB) during the night floating and detached from the
vessel. Resources are now searching for the rowing boat and Dr
Belic. A third Nimrod is currently on its way to the scene (two were
used during the night) and a fishing vessel is also on scene and
searching. A chemical tanker is expected to join the search at 12.00
midday. |
Simon Rabett,
Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager said: "Conditions for searching
are difficult with 58 knot
west-south-westerly winds and very
rough seas. We have had to release one of the ships which was
searching due to the bad weather.
"The helicopter has now
returned to base as it has run out of fuel. In long distance
incidents such as these we can only use helicopters for specific
tasks - such as finding the EPIRB."
The rower, Nenad Belic
set off in his boat, 'The Lun' (short for lunatic – really!) 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 last night.
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.
Link of
interest... |
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