A 54-year-old man of Polish nationality was assisted on 7 November after the sailboat he was on drifted while anchored off São Roque beach, in the municipality of Machico, Madeira.
An alert was received at 7:15 p.m. through the Funchal Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre. Units from the Funchal Local Maritime Police Command, the Madeira Maritime Department, the Madeiran Lifeboat Association (SANAS Madeira) and the Machico Municipal Fire Brigade were immediately dispatched. On arrival, the man was found ashore showing signs of hypothermia. He was attended to and taken by firefighters to a hospital.
The boat's owner has been required to submit a plan for removing the vessel. It may only sail again after an inspection confirms it is seaworthy. The Funchal Local Maritime Police Command is handling the case.
