Latest news with #MsWood
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Charity crew 'insufficiently trained' to save drowning woman
Volunteers at a charity for disabled sailors were "insufficiently trained" to rescue a woman who drowned after falling overboard from a yacht, an accident investigation has Wood, 43, died after she fell from an Andrew Cassell Foundation (ACF) vessel during a race off Cowes, Isle of Wight in October Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report also found an "incomplete" risk assessment was carried out ahead of the ACF said it was "profoundly saddened" by Ms Wood's death and that it had "introduced significant improvements" after the incident. The ACF, based in Cowes, aims to enable disabled sailors to race with and against non-disabled crews in an "inclusive and equal environment".On the day of the incident, it was participating in a race organised by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club. The MAIB report said the small sailing vessel called LimbItless was crewed by an experienced skipper, Ms Wood, and two foundation participant crew Ms Wood fell overboard, the skipper and one of the crew members were able to get the vessel alongside her but were "unable to pull her inboard".Three other vessels assisted in the rescue effort but Ms Wood was unconscious when she was pulled from the water and was pronounced dead at the found the charity's risk assessment "did not consider recovery methods tailored to individual needs of crew members."The report said the crew "did not have an effective method of recovering Elizabeth from the water". According to the MAIB report, Ms Wood had sailed extensively in her added that treatment she had received for a series of physical and mental health conditions had led to significant weight gain and a loss of joined joined the ACF in 2021 and had participated in Cowes Week the following Ms Wood's death the ACF teamed up with the RNLI and other organisations to create a "FastNet Recovery System" which is a net that makes it easier to recover people who have fallen into the water. 'Practise thoroughly' Chief inspector of marine accidents, Andrew Moll, said: "Not every event or outing requires bespoke equipment but it may be necessary, especially when sailing with people whose ability to assist with their own recovery might be impaired."All skippers should consider how they and their crew will recover an unconscious person from the water in a timely manner and ensure they and their crew practise thoroughly for such an event." An ACF spokesperson said: "Since the incident, we have introduced significant improvements designed to strengthen the support and protection we offer to all participants."These include the introduction of a dedicated safety vessel, enhanced risk assessments tailored to individual needs, and joining the RYA Sailability programme to further our commitment to inclusive and safe sailing."Our charity was founded to break down barriers and open up competitive sailing to disabled sailors. "We remain fully committed to this mission and to ensuring the highest possible standards of care, safety, and support for everyone who sails with us." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- BBC News
Woman sees "own ghost" in Eryri Brocken spectre illusion
A woman has described the "breath-taking" experience of seeing a rare ghostly shadow phenomenon while out walking.A Brocken spectre optical illusion happens when a person's own shadow is projected onto low cloud, often surrounded by a rainbow Wood, a mountain leader from Menai Bridge, Anglesey, spotted it while walking on Crib Goch in Eryri, also known as said her initial shock at encountering a ghostly figure of herself in the mist soon gave way to elation at an "awesome natural experience". Ms Wood was heading for the summit of Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in the sunny spring warmth of the sun after a chilly night meant there were clouds in the valley below, but it was clear up at she made her way along the steep ridge known as Crib Goch, she glanced down and saw a huge ghostly figure out of the corner of her eye."It made me catch my breath," she explained. "The mountainside falls away from Crib Goch quite steeply, so you don't expect to see anyone down there."It took a split second to realise it wasn't a person, but a Brocken spectre - a ghostly reflection of myself, in a triple rainbow halo."Until you've seen one, you don't realise what an incredibly powerful experience it is to see your own self projected into nature in a way more beautiful than you could imagine." The weather conditions stayed in place for long enough for Ms Wood to get the Brocken spectre to dance and wave its arms, along with others who were also walking the ridge at the same time."One of the strangest things about the Brocken spectre is that you can only see your own one," she added. "You can't see anyone else's, unless they're standing right next to you."As an outdoor leader, I run courses to help people reconnect with nature, to slow down and be in the moment - this was definitely an example of what happens when you do."Seeing the Brocken spectre was quite a spiritual experience, a reminder that nature is so powerful that you never know what you're going to see in wild spaces." The name Brocken spectre comes from the Brocken mountain in Germany, and was invented by a scientist who observed the ghostly reflections in Met Office said: "When an observer stands on a hill which is partially enveloped in mist and in such a position that their shadow is thrown on to the mist, they may get the illusion that the shadow is a gigantic person seen dimly through the mist."The sun shining behind the observer projects their shadow through the mist, while the magnification of the shadow is an optical illusion which makes the shadow on nearby clouds seem at the same distance as faraway landmarks seen through the cloud."
