During an inspection of the anchorages of the launching rafts in the Viña del Mar sector, carried out by Ian Taylor’s LTP Batro and his crew on Friday, December 27, a minor was rescued in an emergency situation.

While inspecting the Caleta Abarca point, an 11 year old boy was sighted on a paddle surf board, approximately 400 meters from shore. The child stated that he was unable to return due to strong sea conditions, which included a strong breaker on the beach, posing a high risk for his safe return.

In view of this situation, we immediately proceeded to rescue the child. The crew provided food, water and shelter to the child, while the skipper informed the Port Authority of what had happened. Subsequently, the child was transferred to the Port Captain’s Office, where his mother was contacted to inform her of what had happened and to coordinate his pick-up.

The boat arrived at Muelle Prat, handing the minor over to the Valparaíso Port Captain’s Office duty officer, who continued with the corresponding procedure, without additional incidents.

According to Germán González, Ian Taylor’s Central Fleet Coordinator, “fortunately we were able to be in that place at that precise moment while we were positioning the rafts with fireworks for the New Year. The timely action of the crew prevented a potentially serious situation, highlighting our commitment to maritime safety in the region”.