"The driver fell asleep": a ship drifted for a kilometer and ran aground on a beach in Ouistreham

More of a scare than anything else. This Sunday, a fisherman fell asleep at the helm of his boat.

It drifted for a kilometer before running aground on a beach in Ouistreham, nearly a kilometer from the port entrance, reports ICI Normandie. "I was contacted in the morning by the harbor master's office. They explained to me that this fishing vessel was returning to the port of Ouistreham in the morning, but the driver fell asleep. The vessel therefore drifted and ran aground on the beach," reacted the mayor of Ouistreham, Romain Bail, to our colleagues.

Two-hour operation

The four fishermen on board were unharmed. Refloating the vessel, supervised by the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM), took nearly two hours.

According to the mayor of the Normandy town, the gendarmes conducted alcohol and drug tests on the fisherman at the helm.