Lyme Regis: Lifeboat crew praised for rescue of fisherman off Chesil beach (From Thisisdorset)

Lyme Regis: Lifeboat crew praised for rescue of fisherman off Chesil beach

11:00am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Latest By James Tourgout

THE crew of the Lyme Regis lifeboat have been praised for their part in rescuing a fisherman off Chesil Beach.

They were among the emergency teams called out after Denis Rehbein plunged into the sea off West Bexington when his boat was in danger of grounding.

Mr Rehbein praised coastguards, paramedics, harbourmasters, lifeboat crew, trawler crew and anglers on the beach for their help in the drama off West Bexington.

The 59 year old ended up in the water for 20 minutes after his fishing boat Telden was swept towards the beach in heavy weather.

He said: “I am so grateful to everybody for their help.

“I want to thank everyone who was involved in helping me.

“I can’t apologise enough for the inconvenience. I don’t like putting people’s lives at risk or fetching them out.

“They were all brilliant.”

Mr Rehbein, who lives in Bridport and works at Numatics in Chard, added: “I am still in shock.

“It could have been a lot worse.

“The fishermen on the beach and the paramedics said that the boat could be replaced but I couldn’t.

“I am lucky.”

Mr Rehbein’s vessel was forced towards the beach after his anchor broke and his engine failed to start.

He decided to jump from the Telden but was thrown off at the same time as a swell hit the boat and he ended up in the water.

The trawler Tegan Mor and the Lyme Regis lifeboat couldn’t get close enough to the boat as it was too dangerous but lifeboatman John Bird swam ashore He said: “When we arrived the man had just about reached the shore. “His boat was on the shoreline, but was being tossed around in heavy surf.

“We made sure the man was being looked after.

“He appeared very cold. “Then we had to try and get hold of the fishing boat because otherwise it could have drifted out to sea. “It was very tricky because conditions were worsening all the time. “In the end I found it too difficult and dangerous to swim back to the lifeboat, so we decided not to try and tow the fishing boat with the lifeboat. “Instead, we managed to get a rope to the coastguards’ vehicle and they winched the boat ashore.

“Overall, it was quite a difficult job for everyone involved but were delighted to help as usual and pleased the man who went overboard is safe and well.”