Ferry "Volcan de Timanfaya" saved capsized fishermen
On Aug 24, 2014, at 2 a.m. the 8,5-meters long fishing vessel "F/V El Calafu" capsized after having left the port of Melenara on Gran Canaria and drifted bottom up eight miles off Melenara in rough seas.
The crew of two had saved themselves onto the keel without having had a chance to activate the EPIRB.
Only at 7,19 a.m. they managed to activate a locator the signal of which was received at the Estación Espacial in Maspalomas. An SAR operation was launched involving the lifeboat "Nunki" and a helicopter.
First on scene was the "Volcán de Timanfaya" which was underway from Las Palmas to Morro Jable. They traced the castaways, and captain Jamil Jabur stopped the ferry around 200 meters off the wreck.
The two fishermen Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández jumped into the sea and climbed aboard. Both returned to Gran Canaria in good health in the afternoon of Aug 25.
How it happened?
This night will Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández probably not soon forget. On Sunday evening from Melenara As the two young fishermen started on Gran Canaria to go out with her little fishing boat El Calafu of the sea and catch squid, they had no idea what would take a dramatic turn this trip.
It was about 2 clock in the night, as the only 8.50 meters long boat capsized suddenly. Kiel Top drove the El Calafu now about eight miles off Melenara in the roaring sea. The two men, however, managed fortunately at the last second to get into her tiny lifeboat, which they could then leave only seven hours later.
Despite the understandable fear she felt at first, the two men were quite confident to be saved in the end, although initially not managed to activate the existing on board the lifeboat beacon. So they drove for hours through the dark night, without anybody would have had of her predicament knowledge. It was only when it was already light to 7.19 clock on Monday morning, was received in the Estación Espacial from Maspalomas to call for help of the young fisherman, whom it was finally still managed to turn their tracking device.
Ferry was located in the immediate vicinity
Immediately the staff have been alerted that the search of the castaways started with the rescue boat and a helicopter Nunki. But not only the professional rescuer, but also the crew of the Volcan de Timanfaya ferry shipping company Armas, which was on its way from Las Palmas to Morro Jable on Fuerteventura, received the dramatic Rettungsruf. Since the ferry was very close to the position of the beacon, the crew held on the eyes and could actually soon discover the two men in their nutshell.
Immediately, the captain of the Volcan de Timanfaya, Jamil Jabur, the command to stop the machine and take all necessary steps to rescue the fishermen. As the sea was still quite rough at this time, there was a danger that the small rescue boat would crash into the wall of the large ferry. Therefore, Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández decided to jump into the churning sea and up to the fleeing ship back down the last few meters floating. They even estimate the distance to about 100 meters. The witnesses on board the ferry, however, report more 200 to 300 meters, which had to cover in the cold waters of the Atlantic the men. For less trained people, this effort would hardly have been possible. However, the 30-year-old Rayco Garcia is one of the best apnea divers in the world and is accustomed to act sensibly under complicated circumstances. His friend Jonathan Fernández is an excellent swimmer and is located in a prime physical condition. This fact and their experience in dealing with difficult situations, it is thanks to them that they were saved so happy at the end.
Dangerous rescue
When they reached the ship's side of the ferry, began the dangerous maneuvers to get the men on board. But even this difficult situation could be overcome with the active help of the crew of the Volcán de Timanfaya.
In the end, it had the two men actually managed. After a dramatic night in which they had despite all the complications never lost the confidence to be sooner or later rescued, they were finally safe. "Of course we were scared at first, but soon we were convinced to be eventually saved," Rayco Garcia said after he had arrived with his friend on Monday afternoon in Gran Canaria.
On Aug 24, 2014, at 2 a.m. the 8,5-meters long fishing vessel "F/V El Calafu" capsized after having left the port of Melenara on Gran Canaria and drifted bottom up eight miles off Melenara in rough seas.
The crew of two had saved themselves onto the keel without having had a chance to activate the EPIRB.
Only at 7,19 a.m. they managed to activate a locator the signal of which was received at the Estación Espacial in Maspalomas. An SAR operation was launched involving the lifeboat "Nunki" and a helicopter.
First on scene was the "Volcán de Timanfaya" which was underway from Las Palmas to Morro Jable. They traced the castaways, and captain Jamil Jabur stopped the ferry around 200 meters off the wreck.
The two fishermen Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández jumped into the sea and climbed aboard. Both returned to Gran Canaria in good health in the afternoon of Aug 25.
How it happened?
This night will Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández probably not soon forget. On Sunday evening from Melenara As the two young fishermen started on Gran Canaria to go out with her little fishing boat El Calafu of the sea and catch squid, they had no idea what would take a dramatic turn this trip.
It was about 2 clock in the night, as the only 8.50 meters long boat capsized suddenly. Kiel Top drove the El Calafu now about eight miles off Melenara in the roaring sea. The two men, however, managed fortunately at the last second to get into her tiny lifeboat, which they could then leave only seven hours later.
Despite the understandable fear she felt at first, the two men were quite confident to be saved in the end, although initially not managed to activate the existing on board the lifeboat beacon. So they drove for hours through the dark night, without anybody would have had of her predicament knowledge. It was only when it was already light to 7.19 clock on Monday morning, was received in the Estación Espacial from Maspalomas to call for help of the young fisherman, whom it was finally still managed to turn their tracking device.
Ferry was located in the immediate vicinity
Immediately the staff have been alerted that the search of the castaways started with the rescue boat and a helicopter Nunki. But not only the professional rescuer, but also the crew of the Volcan de Timanfaya ferry shipping company Armas, which was on its way from Las Palmas to Morro Jable on Fuerteventura, received the dramatic Rettungsruf. Since the ferry was very close to the position of the beacon, the crew held on the eyes and could actually soon discover the two men in their nutshell.
Immediately, the captain of the Volcan de Timanfaya, Jamil Jabur, the command to stop the machine and take all necessary steps to rescue the fishermen. As the sea was still quite rough at this time, there was a danger that the small rescue boat would crash into the wall of the large ferry. Therefore, Rayco Garcia and Jonathan Fernández decided to jump into the churning sea and up to the fleeing ship back down the last few meters floating. They even estimate the distance to about 100 meters. The witnesses on board the ferry, however, report more 200 to 300 meters, which had to cover in the cold waters of the Atlantic the men. For less trained people, this effort would hardly have been possible. However, the 30-year-old Rayco Garcia is one of the best apnea divers in the world and is accustomed to act sensibly under complicated circumstances. His friend Jonathan Fernández is an excellent swimmer and is located in a prime physical condition. This fact and their experience in dealing with difficult situations, it is thanks to them that they were saved so happy at the end.
Dangerous rescue
When they reached the ship's side of the ferry, began the dangerous maneuvers to get the men on board. But even this difficult situation could be overcome with the active help of the crew of the Volcán de Timanfaya.
In the end, it had the two men actually managed. After a dramatic night in which they had despite all the complications never lost the confidence to be sooner or later rescued, they were finally safe. "Of course we were scared at first, but soon we were convinced to be eventually saved," Rayco Garcia said after he had arrived with his friend on Monday afternoon in Gran Canaria.