“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is the yacht Llama Lo,...”

This is the moment that every sailor dreads, and for the crew of the Llama Lo it became reality when their catamaran was capsized by a whale off the South African coast on the 18th October 2015.

That night may have been the worst in their lives, but luck was on their side and nearing the search area was today’s H.E.R.O. Award nominee Captain Hervé Lepage.

That night he was in command of the huge French container carrier 'CMA CGM Rossini', which had been alerted by the French MRCC to the distress signal.

Captain Lepage had done his military service at Gris Nez in 1988, and is now also a volunteer with the French Sea Rescue Service in his home town of La Rochelle.

It was his skill and expertise, as well as the dedication of his crew, that lead to the rescue of the 2 crewmen onboard.

 

More About Captain Hervé Lepage

Short List: H.E.R.O. Awards Short List (new window)