err not quite, mild hypothermia actually....but you're right it took a while for the SAR helicopter to find the guy.
Anyway the original article appeared in "The Log", and was recently republished in one of the GATCO publications... the gist of it went like this...
Pilot (757/767 driver) was flying UK to France, should have been in a Twin but that went u/s and he decided to take the PA28 instead. Engine failed SOUTH of the IOW, perfect drills (incl call to D&D 121.5) and text book ditching "Stall warning seemed to be going off forever until I finally mushed into the drink, tail first. Opened door, leap out on wing, head only got so far... forgot to remove headset... everybody does apparently. Didn't appear to be sinking so ventured back into cabin, switched on radios and told D&D down safe... back out on wing... much later a/c finally sank.. watched the glow of the radios below the sea"
... well thats from memory, but I do remember the comments of the AAIB investgator at the time " I wouldn't fly over the sea in anything not big enough to have a toilet"
Rgds BEX
P.S. the GATCO (Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers) magazine is called
TRANSMIT and is always worth a read if you come across a copy..
rgds BEX