Yacht with broken mast rescued near Bērzciems
On Thursday a yacht lost its mast and became unmanageable in the sea near Engure, but volunteer firefighters and other rescuers safely escorted the vessel and its crew back to Engure harbor.
On Thursday, August 8, around midday, the Engure Volunteer Firefighters Association received a call from the national 112 emergency service about a yacht in distress at sea roughly five kilometers from Bērzciems. The call came in at 12:48 pm, and within minutes a two-person rescue crew set out from Engure harbor by motorboat.
Reaching the scene was delayed because a local festival was underway in Engure at the time, causing traffic congestion on the roads, so the rescue team arrived later than intended. Fortunately, one of the association's members happened to be nearby on his own boat and was the first to reach the scene. He assessed the situation and relayed the necessary information, though he was unable to get close enough to the yacht to provide direct assistance.
Help arrives
Additional rescuers soon arrived by motorboat, along with State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) crews from Tukums and the Coast Guard service from Riga. Upon inspecting the yacht, rescuers found that its mast had broken off, leaving the vessel unable to steer.
The rescue teams helped place the mast back onto the yacht's deck, after which no further assistance on the water was needed. The yacht and its passengers were then escorted to Engure harbor, where VUGD and National Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) crews were waiting.
