Boat crashes into breakwater metres away from woman
A man had to be treated by paramedics after a motorboat crashed into a breakwater. An air ambulance landed at Mount Batten this afternoon after the boat dramatically ran aground just metres from where a woman was sitting.
Eyewitnesses say the vessel left Sutton Harbour this afternoon (Tuesday, September 17), appearing to intend to sail around Mount Batten. However, it was later photographed aground at the breakwater.
Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI were called to the incident at around 2.50pm today. A spokesperson for HM Coastguard told PlymouthLive that a vessel was reported to have run aground at the Mount Batten breakwater.
READ MORE:Live: Police helicopter and 'armed police' spotted
READ MORE:Live: Plymouth bus services cancelled following medical emergency
An eyewitness said he and his wife saw the motorboat heading out of Sutton Harbour through the turntable bridge. "From there it was heading towards Mount Batten breakwater, presumably to go past it, to head on out," they said.
"After a couple of minutes a pilot boat tied up and two guys got off, jumped into a twin engine boat and with great haste, went chasing off in the same direction. By the time we walked up to Dutton's Cafe, the motor boat was already on the rocks."
Another witness said: "My daughter has just witnessed a boat crash into the rocks four meters away from her."
South Western Ambulance Service vehicles were seen in the area and video footage also shows a helicopter from Devon Air Ambulance landing. One man was taken into the care of paramedics, but it is unclear if he was then taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a motor vessel reported to have gone aground at the Mount Batten breakwater, Plymouth, at about 2.50pm on 17 September.
"The vessel was moved to a pontoon where the man was taken into the care of the South Western Ambulance Service. Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI's inshore lifeboat from Plymouth attended."