Caught in a storm with wave heights of four to five metres off the Lofoten Islands, and struggling with an engine failure, the crew of 27 metre seine netter Kim Roger had no choice but to send a Mayday call.
A local lifeboat Det norske Veritas was directed towards Kim Roger’s position and a Sea King rescue helicopter was scrambled from Bodø. A dramatic rescue took place as the disabled seiner drifted rapidly towards the rocks off the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands.
As the Sea King arrived on the scene, Kim Roger was already on its side and on the rocks, while two of the crew were in the water and three were in a liferaft tethered to the sinking Kim Roger.
All five were winched on board the helicopter just as the stricken fishing vessel rolled onto its side and sank rapidly. The crew were taken to hospital in Bodø for medical checks and subsequently released.
