VIKING liferaft saves Danish couple

On their way around the world in their 33 foot sail boat Tico Tico, Bent, his wife and the junior crew member Lasse left Danish waters in the early summer of 2004. By June they were off the islands of Fiji. In a heavy storm their boat suddenly struck a coral reef that ripped off the keel. Water gushed in and in less than five minutes Bent, Lotte and Lasse found themselves in their VIKING liferaft.



Rescue

The Australian naval vessel Newcastle heard their Mayday, and 3 days later Bent, Lotte and Lasse were rescued by helicopter. Once they were safely back on land, the couple were invited to VIKING headquarters in Esbjerg to see how and where the liferafts are made. This gave them the chance to tell us their story in person. The Danish TV station DR1 followed the meeting and filmed a feature for a broadcast about Bent and Lotte’s round-the-world trip. We at VIKING learned a great deal from their feedback, and were delighted to hear once again that our safety equipment is of the highest quality. Bent was very pleased with his decision to buy a VIKING liferaft instead of a cheaper alternative.

Of course, you always hope not to have to use your rescue equipment, but the sea can be unpredictable and temperamental. Therefore it is essential to choose safety equipment you trust. Bent knew this, and knowing that he had bought a liferaft from the best manufacturer in the world was a great comfort to him as he, Lotte and Lasse waited for three days on the open sea in their VIKING liferaft.