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Dramatic airlift from stricken ferry
TWENTY three people were saved in a dramatic air-sea rescue after a ferry was "broadsided" by waves and forced aground.
This was the scene today as the stricken Riverdance lies dangerously listing on the beach just south of Cleveleys.
The drama began at 7.30 last night as gales of up to 70mph whipped up huge waves. One hit the Riverdance, which was travelling from Warren Point in Northern Ireland to Heysham, sending its cargo spilling into the sea.
See our gallery of the stricken ferry
The captain was forced to make a "mayday" distress call seven miles off the coast of Fleetwood as the roll-on, roll-off ferry began listing dangerously.
At one stage it was feared it would capsize.
Rescue crews tell of sea horror
Riverdance ferry drama: Timeline
Fourteen crew members and passengers were airlifted to safety by RAF and Royal Navy helicopters.
Rescue crews today described the conditions as "the worst we've ever seen".
Lifeboat crews from Fleetwood and Lytham were also scrambled to the rescue area.
The ferry, which was carrying lorries laden with goods, began to drift inshore and ran aground opposite Anchorsholme Lane at 11pm.
The remaining nine crew – who stayed on board to try and save the ferry – were taken off the vessel this morning.
Those rescued, including the four passengers who were one woman in her 60s, two men in their 60s and one man in his 30s, were airlifted to Blackpool Airport.
Two suffered mild hypothermia and were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The rescued crew and passengers were then transferred to Lancaster's Holiday Inn Hotel.
Crowds this morning gathered to watch on the shore as huge waves crashed against the hull of the ferry, which lies around 50 yards from the sea wall, listing severely.
Supt Richard Spedding from Lancashire Police said: "This could have been a really bad incident, but as we stand here today there is no loss of life.
"A couple of people have suffered minor injuries, but they are just glad to be safe."
Edward Harrison, 42, of Valeway Avenue, Anchorsholme, saw the drama unfold.
He said: "You could see the rescue crews were battling to keep the helicopters under control. The helicopter pilots and everyone else involved deserves a medal for what they did."
Beach patrol teams spent this morning attempting to clear peat bog fertiliser which had spilled from the ferry on to Cleveleys beach.
Davy Thompson, area operations manager of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "The current situation is that the vessel is high and dry and listing quite severely due to the high winds, which are reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour.
"There's no immediate danger of the vessel capsizing or any spillage."
Colleague Mark Clark added: "Our main concern now is any pollution or problems that could occur. We do need to find out what kind of oils were on board."
One lorry was lost from the ship when the initial wave struck. Two more lorries are understood to have been lost since.
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of the Sea Truck Shipping Company, said: "At the moment the crew of the vessel are in a hotel in Lancaster resting. They've had a very bad experience overnight but they are all in high spirits.
"We have a team of international salvage operators which have already arrived in the UK.
"They are having discussions with the local authorities, the HM Coastguard and other emergency crews and are formulating a plan of action which will be put into operation over the next few hours.
There will be no attempt to refloat the vessel tonight.
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Weather for Blackpool
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: North west
