A 48-year-old windsurfer was rescued today, Saturday, December 28, by the Coast Guard after being left adrift due to a malfunction off the coast of Tignale. The call for assistance came around 12:20 from other athletes who had lost sight of their friend during the activity. The Coast Guard’s Operations Room immediately activated search operations, deploying two vessels and also requesting the intervention of 118 emergency aircraft and the Fire Brigade.
After about an hour, the windsurfer was spotted approximately one kilometer south of Tignale by the patrol boat CP 703. He was retrieved in good condition thanks to the wetsuit he was wearing and did not require medical assistance. The issue stemmed from a breakage of the sail attachment to the board, which had left him at the mercy of the waves until help arrived. The Coast Guard always recommends that athletes carry mobile devices to facilitate any potential requests for assistance.
