A CREDITON builder has told how his telephone call to a town builders' merchant helped with the rescue of a yachtsman who went overboard off Ushant, northern France.

Steve Willis, of S J Willis and Son, building contractors, of Dewsmoor, Crediton, was on his friend's 32ft vessel "Caprice" last Thursday, May 23, when he heard him swept into the sea.

Steve, who is generally sea sick for some hours when first onboard, was in the cabin of the yacht and feeling under the weather when he heard what he described as a "whoosh" as his friend, the owner of the yacht, went overboard.

Steve reacted quickly and heard him shout and when he got on deck, saw his friend 50 metres away from the boat.

Following lifelong learning sea safety skills, Steve threw some items over the side, including a lifebouy, which he explained: "gave a wider trail for when a search could begin".

Steve logged in "man overboard" on the computer which instantly tracked the location where the incident happened.

He then started the engine and began looking for his friend, an Ilfracombe man, who was now nowhere to be seen.

Steve told the Courier: "I started looking for him and at the same time rang 999, getting through to the French Coastguard.

"I said 'man overboard' but the person on the other end of the 'phone just said 'I do not understand'.

"I did this again and again before I used my mobile phone which I had in my pocket.

"J's came up with a friend's number, but I knew he was away.

"The next number was Jewson's builders merchants in Crediton and I knew there would be someone there with access to a phone and computer.

"It was Chris Tucker who answered and he knew I was away and where I was going.

"I explained the situation and asked him to ring Falmouth Coastguard and told him to write down the co-ordinates to pass on to them."

A somewhat shocked Chris, sales executive at Jewsons Crediton branch, in Exeter Road, knew Steve as a customer and friend and said: "It was quite difficult for Steve to understand the French coastguards and they didn't understand him.

"He'd told me he was going on his friend's yacht and they were going to take it down to the south of France to leave it there for the summer, and then get the ferry back."

Mr Tucker liaised with the Coastguard Service, who immediately put a plan into action.

Steve, meanwhile, continued with a "figure of eight" search in what he said was a "reasonable sea" with winds between five and six knots and against the tide.

"My friend later told me that I had passed him three times and at one stage only about 25 metres away from him but I never saw him.

"I had just finished the third pass when the engine failed.

"The Coastguard rang me and I said what had happened and they said go to Channel 16, which is for emergencies.

"I put a lifebelt on and got in the jib and got the boat stable and began to sail it away from the land.

"About 10 minutes later a helicopter came and then I spoke with them over the radio and they went away again to look for my friend.

"I was still suffering badly and throwing up because I was sea sick and when I was in the cabin heard a French lifeboat arrive.

"They said to steer 130 degrees and I followed them until we reached port at Ushant and some of them came aboard and took control.

"It was while going back to the port that I was told they had found my friend and he was 'ok' despite having been in the water for almost two and a half hours."

Steve said he was looked after well by the lifeboat crew and given accommodation for the night before he went to see his friend in Brest Hospital, where he was being treated for hypothermia.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search for the missing yachtsman involved a French lifeboat, two helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft, along with two naval vessels from France and Germany that were in the area.

He was rescued by the German warship "Bremen" and then airlifted to the hospital.

Steve said that seven German crew from the ship were just leaving when he arrived and explained that his friend had been the first person they had saved alive in the 30 years service of the ship.

Steve's friend, who had dislocated a shoulder when he went overboard, was presented with a medal and gifts on behalf of the crew.

He added that he had been told that his friend, an experienced sailor, had been praised for doing everything right to ensure his survival while in the water, which had helped him endure the ordeal in the cold water.

Steve said he could not fault the care he had received from all involved and said he hopes it would be the same if it had been a Frenchman in such a similar situation but off the UK.

"The Coastguard said we got everything right in the actions we took and I must put some of my own down to what I learned as a Sea Cadet 32 years ago while I was a member in Tiverton.

"I remember I did the Tall Ships Race with the Cadets.

"It was those lifetime skills and remembering not to panic and to also let people know you are in trouble that got us through."

Mr Tucker, whose actions were praised by Brixham Coastguard and Jewsons, said he was glad both men were safe.

He added: "It wasn't sounding too good for a while. Conditions were pretty damn rough, the yacht's engines had failed and the guy must have been in the water for about two and a half hours.

"I don't think I did anything special - anyone would have done the same - I'm just happy they are okay."

Steve said he would like to thank all those involved, including Brixham Coastguards, the guys at Jewsons in Crediton, the crew of the German ship and the other ships involved in the search, the lifeboat crews and air crews and all who had helped them both.

He also thanks all those friends and family for their cards and emails and kind wishes.

Steve said that he and his friend "counted themselves lucky" - at times fearing he would have to "tell his friend's wife that he had lost him".