Sailing novice sparks HUGE security scare by beaching his boat yards from a Ministry of Defence weapons site
On source said the man was lucky not to have been shot
A ROOKIE sailor triggered a huge security scare after beaching his boat yards from a weapons base.
Helicopters, police and coastguards raced to the MoD’s Foulness Island, where boffins test explosives and guided missile systems.
Cops were greeted by a man in his 50s in shorts and flip-flops described as “unsteady on his feet”. He did not have a life jacket — or a clue where he was.
As he stumbled from the 23ft boat with blood oozing from wounds to his feet he sheepishly told cops he had zero sailing experience.
He said he was doing a favour for the vessel’s owner for “beer money”.
The unnamed Captain Calamity was trying to steer 168-nautical miles from Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, to Portsmouth.
It should take 48 hours in perfect conditions. He got just six nautical miles
A source told The Sun: “Sailing unidentified yards from Foulness Island would normally get you shot.
"This idiot was lucky.
“Anyone with an ounce of sailing experience would realise you don’t go anywhere near the base.
“It’s as dangerous as parking on the M25 and having a picnic.”
Essex Police told The Sun: “We were called just after 3.45pm to reports that a man in a boat had run into difficulty.
“Officers from our Marine Unit attended with other authorities. No arrests were made.”