News / Rower recovering after boat capsized
A MAN is recovering in hospital in Lerwick after falling into the sea when his rowing boat capsized on Thursday evening.
The alarm was raised around 6.45pm when a man was reported in trouble in Tresta and the ambulance was called.
After initial uncertainty whether the call had come from Tresta on the isle of Fetlar or Tresta on the west side, the ambulance headed for Tresta Voe on the mainland.
The man had been rowing near some mussel ropes when his boat turned turtle and he was seen clambering on top of it. Two local men rowed out to help him and brought him ashore.
The ambulance attended and the coastguard sent its Sumburgh-based helicopter SAR102 as a precaution.
The man’s condition was so serious that the chopper landed on the road at Tresta and airlifted him straight to Gilbert Bain Hospital.
On Friday morning hospital staff said the man’s condition had improved and he was now stable.
A coastguard spokesman said that people going to sea should always make sure they were wearing a lifejacket and had flares and a VHF radio with them.
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