Charlie Smith
A SEPTUAGENARIAN has cheated death after he swam to shore when his small fishing boat capsized near Gibraltar.
Hector Baglietto, 79, the vessel’s owner, battled the rough seas as he swam the 25m to shore in a dramatic feat of survival.
The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) responded to the distressed vessel off Europa Point at 9:00am on Thursday after Baglietto had set sail at 6:30am.
A local source told the Olive Press that ‘a big wave capsized the boat’ before the pensioner pulled himself out of the water near the Lighthouse Cottages.
Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service treated the ‘shaken’ Gibraltarian, before he was transferred to St Bernard’s Hospital for medical attention.
An RGP spokesperson said: “Although shaken and disoriented he sustained no life threatening injuries.”
They also confirmed that the boat had sunk after smashing into rocks.
