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A CREW member on Pete Goss' Spirit of Mystery
voyage to Australia has broken his leg when a freak wave knocked the
boat over 300 miles off South Australia.
The
accident happened on Tuesday at about 9.30am as the replica Cornish
lugger was sailing in strong winds and high seas about 300 nautical
miles south-south-west of Kangaroo Island off Adelaide.
A
spokesman said: "The vessel was knocked over and an injury sustained by
one of the crew, Mark Maidment, who's broken his right leg between knee
and ankle.
"Mark
was taken below and treated by the crew who administered morphine and
applied a splint. He's in a stable condition on board and in good
spirits."
The
crew used a satellite phone to contact their support team in Melbourne,
who alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
"Communications with the boat have since been sporadic, but indicate
that the remainder of the crew are fine and the boat is sound and
seaworthy and making good progress in improved conditions towards
Australia," said a spokesman for the project.
"AMSA's
dedicated Dornier search-and-rescue aircraft has overflown the boat and
a doctor has been able to establish two-way communications to offer
advice. AMSA is now co-ordinating communications and assessing the best
way to deal with the casualty and the situation."
Pete,
from St John near Torpoint, is accompanied on his epic journey by his
younger brother Andy, his youngest son Eliot, aged 14, and
brother-in-law Mark.
The
original voyage, 154 years ago, was also a family affair. A group of
seven Cornishmen sailed the 37-foot lugger Mystery from Newlyn in
1854-55 to escape poverty and start a new life in the Australian gold
fields.
article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS
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