Friends hail 'miracle' rescue

The 44-year-old man was found clinging to a piece of wood

A Cornish fisherman who spent six hours clinging to the wreckage of his sunken boat is lucky to be alive say his friends.

Chris Chesterfield, 44, was rescued when his cries for help were heard by walker on the cliffs at Gorran Haven.

Father-of-one Mr Chesterfield, from Mevagissey, is recovering in the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske.

His mother-in-law, Mary Charles, said the family was indebted to the helicopter rescue team from RAF Chivenor.

She said: "They responded so quickly to the hiker who noticed him in the water.

"If they hadn't he would have been a goner after being in the water for that long. It's a miracle he's still alive."

The rescue helicopter reached Mr Chestefield within 10 minutes

Les Hunkin, chairman of the Mevagissey Fishermen's Protection Society, said: "He is an experienced skipper who knows the waters well.

"No-one knows what happened yet."

Roger Brimacombe, Brixham coastguard watch manager, said the fisherman was wearing oilskins but no life jacket during the ordeal.

"When the man was heard he was clinging to a piece of wreckage about 50 metres from the cliffs," he said.

"Fortunately at this time of year with the sea temperature at about 17 C this gave him the chance to survive for such a long period of time.

"However, clearly his stamina and survivability held out against the elements."