CYPRUS (7 Apr 2006) -- A FISHING and diving trip nearly turned into a disaster on Sunday when a diver became separated from his boat, leading to a large search and rescue operation. Twenty-year-old Stelios Yiangou from Nicosia had gone to Cape Gata in the Akrotiri area with two friends; he went for a dive at midday, while his friends remained on the boat. It was agreed that Yiangou would not stray more than 500 metres from the anchor and would return at 1.30pm. But when he didn't show up on time, his friends became worried and started looking for him. By 4pm, with Yiangou still missing, the authorities were contacted. Cyprus police, in co-operation with the British Sovereign Base Areas authorities, dispatched four boats and two helicopters to join the hunt. An hour later, Yiangou himself contacted his friends by telephone, saying that he had been picked up by a private yacht, one mile away from his original location. Authorities collected him and he was taken to the old Limassol port to be checked out; he was cold and in shock. | | Rough seas and strong currents have been blamed for carrying him away from the boat, meaning he was unable to swim back. SOURCE - Cyprus MailSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
