Hayling sailor saves lives of eight men

by elise.brewerton@thenews.co.uk on 17 Oct 2006 The Portsmouth local newspaper - the News - reported that a Hayling Island family enjoying a yachting holiday saved the lives of eight men by plucking them from a sinking boat.

The desperate group of immigrants from Algeria had been drifting for three days in dangerous waters. Their battered dinghy was sinking fast.
But luckily for them, Luke Danby, 35, and wife Samantha from South Lane, Hayling Island, were sailing off the coast of Almeria, Spain, when they saw the small dinghy.

It was packed with the Algerians who were frantically waving their arms for help and bailing out water.

Mr and Mrs Danby, along with their cousin, Tim Beeby, raced to help. They also radioed coastguards who informed them that the quickest anybody else could get there would be more than two hours.

The yachtsmen plucked the relieved immigrants to safety yesterday as sea conditions worsened rapidly.

Mr Danby, a professional skipper who spends most of his time sailing around the world, said: 'Sailing holidays can be a bit different but you don't expect saving a boatload of African illegals to be part of the programme.'

'I saw a couple of other boats ignore their cries for help and sail past and I was worried they'd be hit by something big when night fell because they were in a busy shipping lane. They literally fell on top of me hugging me and thanking me for saving their lives.'

Mr Danby's mother, Patsy Danby of West Lane, Hayling Island, said: 'We are very proud that they saved those men from such a dreadful situation.'

The News - http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=455&ArticleID=1824924