Woman recalls two hour ordeal after falling overboard (From Daily Echo)

Woman recalls two hour ordeal after falling overboard

1:11pm Monday 19th July 2010 in News

A HAMPSHIRE woman who was in the sea for two hours after falling off a yacht near Cornwall has described her terrifying ordeal.

Prue Nash, from Hamble, went overboard about 50 miles off Lands' End as she returned from a regatta in Ireland.

She had to remove her life jacket when it became caught up under the boat after went overboard in the early hours of yesterday.

Prue, a yacht broker, was operating the sails of the yacht, the Buccaneer, on the way back from Cork when she fell through a guard rail in gale force winds and heavy seas.

She had to take off her harness and life jacket after they caught on part of the underside of the vessel, keeping her underwater.

She then had to tread water until she was rescued.

Falmouth Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 1am and launched a rescue helicopter and two lifeboats.

Prue, who was miraculously uninjured, was eventually picked up by an RAF rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor.

She said: "They couldn't believe that they found me still fit and well after two hours.

"I really didn't think I was going to make it. It was terrifying.

"Your arms get really tired and your legs really cold, but I said: 'Keep on paddling and they will come', and they did."

Henry Purbrick, of Falmouth Coastguard, said cold sea water and heavy conditions usually proved fatal if anyone fell in.

He said: "A lot of people who go in the water tend to die very quickly. The shock is enough to kill people, so the fact she survived says a lot for her skill."