TWO men rescued after the light aircraft they were in ditched in the sea off Jersey’s south-east coast have praised the response of emergency services.
Duncan Laisney and Paul Clifford were picked up by the St Helier inshore lifeboat and taken back to Albert Pier on Thursday afternoon, after being picked up from a life raft in rough seas.
All three RNLI lifeboats, Ports of Jersey’s pilot boat ‘Rival’, Channel Islands Air Search and a French rescue helicopter went to the scene to take part in the search, which was coordinated by Jersey Coastguard.
Mr Laisney said the hour-long wait ‘felt like a long time’ but praised the professionalism of emergency personnel.
‘The RNLI provide an exceptional service,’ he said.
Emergency services were called out just after 2pm when the pilot radioed Air Traffic Control to say they were ditching.
Mr Clifford said: ‘We’re delighted to be back, it was a little bit worrying, but we knew people were coming to get us.
‘It was a nice feeling to see the lifeboat coming towards us – there was a great sense of relief.’
The men were uninjured and did not require hospital treatment.
