Mobile phone call saves the life of stranded sailor 4000 miles away

A mobile may be an essential communication tool for many people around the world, but few will have their life saved by their phone in long-distance circumstances as dramatic as these.

Mark Corbett was sailing in the Caribbean with two companions when the boat ran into difficulties. According to the Telegraph, the 258ft vessel, dubbed the Motor Yacht Titanic, was being taken from Saint Vincent to Puerto Rico for a refit when it began taking on water.

The ship lost all power and Mr Corbett was unable to use the ship’s long range radio and they were too far from shore to use the VHF radio. Instead, Mr Corbett used his satellite phone to call his friend - Alex Evans – who was 4000 miles away, in Wales.

Mr Evans, who is a volunteer on the RNLI lifeboat in Aberystwyth, admitted that he assumed the call was a joke initially – due to the name of the vessel. However, he soon realised the crew were in trouble and he called the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Falmouth, Cornwall.

An international rescue mission was launched and within two hours of the original call, French and US rescue aircraft located the ailing vessel.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: “It’s pretty remarkable that this all started with a phone call to a friend in Britain.”

Mr Corbett explained that his friend’s number was the first he could recall off the top of his head at the crucial moment.

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