Guy deBoer has been successfully recovered from his yacht SPIRIT during a Brazilian Navy rescue operation in the South Atlantic, approximately 870 miles east of Rio de Janeiro. The urgent evacuation was initiated on 7 November after deBoer’s condition deteriorated due to an accident aboard his vessel.
The Brazilian Navy corvette Barroso (V34) quickly made its way to SPIRIT, with the ship capable of 29 knots and equipped with a Westland Super Lynx helicopter. Following Guy’s instructions, he lowered all sails and left SPIRIT drifting in preparation for the evacuation.
As the situation unfolded, GGR Control maintained contact with the Navy doctor and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Brazil. Initial attempts to reach deBoer were unsuccessful, causing concern about his ability to manage the yacht. At 0700 UTC, he managed to contact GGR Control, albeit sounding groggy and incoherent. He confirmed receipt of messages and acknowledged that a helicopter was en route.
At approximately 1010 UTC, the helicopter launched with a flight crew and two Navy divers. Their outbound flight took around 50 minutes, and by 1138 UTC, the news was confirmed that Guy had boarded the helicopter. Meanwhile, the crew of Barroso was closing in on SPIRIT to assist with the operation.
The rescue plan involved the divers being lowered to assist with deBoer’s evacuation. He had deployed his EPIRB and was prepared for the rescue operation as instructed. Medical personnel were aboard Barroso, and an initial report on his condition is pending, with Rio de Janeiro considered a likely destination for the ship.
Guy first reported an accident on 3 November, following a fall inside SPIRIT’s cabin, which caused him head injuries and impaired his ability to sail. After consulting with medical professionals, he sought to head towards Rio de Janeiro but ultimately required immediate evacuation due to worsening symptoms.
Don McIntyre, GGR founder, expressed relief at deBoer’s recovery and gratitude towards the Brazilian Navy for their quick and professional response. Further updates on Guy’s condition will be shared as they become available.
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