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Mattress Sailor Rescued from Icy Waters
13 Jan
Summary
- Person rescued after attempting to sail on an inflatable mattress.
- The rescue occurred in 7C waters off Cramond Island.
- RNLI crew warn against using pool inflatables at sea.
An extraordinary rescue operation was launched by the RNLI Queensferry crew after a person attempting to sail to Cramond Island on an inflatable mattress became stranded. The emergency call came in Sunday morning, and crew members were dispatched to the Firth of Forth, finding the individual in waters as cold as 7C.
The casualty had been adrift for nearly 90 minutes and was suffering from extreme cold. Volunteer rescuers successfully brought the person to shore, where paramedics and coastguard teams took over. The RNLI highlighted the critical nature of the rescue, noting the person was drifting further offshore due to tide and wind conditions.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of using inflatable toys and airbeds, which are designed for pools, not the open sea. The RNLI advises checking forecasts, understanding tide movements, wearing personal flotation devices, and dressing appropriately for the weather. They stress that anyone in trouble at sea should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
