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The lifeboat crew located the vessel with two persons onboard, anchored in the shipping lane near to the sea reach number one marker buoy.

The bayliner was safely towed back up river to Smallgains Creek, Canvey Island and moored up.

Later, whilst out on an evening training exercise on the Atlantic 75 lifeboat, the crews were called at 8pm by Thames Coastguard, to three swimmers giving cause for concern off of All Hallows, on the Kent side of the river.

The lifeboat crew proceeded to the location and stood by as the three made their own way safely back to shore.

With all ok, Southend lifeboat continued with their exercise.

RNLI media contacts

• Denis Freeman – Southend Lifeboat Station Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
TEL-  07710406661, sue-den-adwalk@blueyonder.co.uk
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk 
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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Fresh from an appearance on the BBC 1 TV programme ‘Escape to the Country’ on Monday (13 May) when the programme presenter Denise Nurse went to sea with the volunteer lifeboat crew and took the helm in a ‘man overboard rescue’ training exercise – Lowestoft RNLI all-weather lifeboat Spirit of Lowestoft was launched to the real callout shortly after 9.50am today (Friday 17 May).

Coxswain John Fox said ‘we found the stranded 25 foot yacht Naijade limping along near to the South Holm Buoy, three and a half miles south of Lowestoft Harbour. Despite some language difficulties with the yacht’s two man crew we managed to secure a towline to the vessel and tow it to the safety to the Yacht Basin where they were able to join their fellow countrymen.’

It was the 35th year that the fleet of yachts from Toerzeillers - Dutch Association of Tour Sailors had sailed from Ijmuiden and Den Helder in Holland to Lowestoft, bringing 120 sailors to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club for the weekend.

 Ends

RNLI media contacts

• Mick Howes, Lowestoft RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
01502 562488 / 07814 468917 email mickhowes@hotmail.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk 
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Page Content: A packed house had gathered at St Richard’s Church Langney to pay their tributes to the life of a popular long term supporter of Eastbourne lifeboats when suddenly the crew pagers interrupted proceedings. The on duty volunteer lifeboat crew were forced to abruptly rush to the assistance of a crewman aboard Eastbourne’s largest commercial fishing boat who had suffered a severe allergic reaction.

The skipper of the Royal Sovereign became very concerned when one of his crew became seriously ill and contacted Dover Coastguard for immediate assistance. Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat was scrambled and was quickly on scene with the station’s medical advisor Stephen Lytton and crewman paramedic Guy Emery on board. The two were transferred to the Royal Sovereign to administer medical treatment to the casualty. With the casualty stabilised he was transferred to the ALB and transported back to Sovereign Harbour where he was passed into the care of a waiting ambulance crew who took him to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Later, friends of Daphne said she would have been delighted with the drama at Church which would have made her day.   

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The yacht, first reported problems some nine miles North West of Padstow, reporting trouble with the vessels engines and experiencing trouble sailing due to weather conditions. The crew managed to make their way to Newland Island where the lifeboat crew met the yacht and fixed a tow.

The lifeboat then proceeded to tow the yacht into the inner harbour at Padstow.

Notes to editors
• Padstow lifeboat station has been operating since 1827.
• To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/padstow

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Sue Norfolk, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07816 250053 / 01841 532902 or Tamsin Thomas, Media Relations Manager South West on 07786 668847

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The vessel had broken down with engine failure half a mile inside the Newland Island at the mouth of the Camel Estuary.

The fishing boat had managed to anchor and await the lifeboat.  Once on scene the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew took the vessel under tow into Padstow Harbour.

Notes to editors
• Padstow lifeboat station has been operating since 1827.
• To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/padstow

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Sue Norfolk, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07816 250053 / 01841 532902 or Tamsin Thomas, Media Relations Manager South West on 07786 668847

Page Content: The vessel got into difficulties off Perranporth when fishing gear became wrapped around the vessel’s propeller.

Once on scene the volunteer lifeboat crew fixed a tow and brought the vessel back into Padstow Harbour.
 
Notes to editors
• Padstow lifeboat station has been operating since 1827.
• To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/padstow

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Sue Norfolk, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07816 250053 / 01841 532902 or Tamsin Thomas, Media Relations Manager South West on 07786 668847

Page Content: The group were onboard a converted fishing vessel that hit rocks in the Camel estuary as they headed towards Padstow harbour.

The lifeboat crew volunteers launched at 5am this morning (Monday 29 April) when reports came in that the Courageous II had gone aground and was holed and that the vessel’s crew were in immediate danger. 

Arriving on scene in just 12 minutes, volunteer RNLI Coxswain Alan Tarby skilfully bought the Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Spirit of Padstow alongside the stricken vessel in very shallow waters. The four men assembled on the aft deck (back) of the converted fishing vessel and were swiftly transferred to the lifeboat.

The RNLI team then headed straight back to the lifeboat station so the survivors could be checked over by paramedics.

Michael England is the RNLI Mechanic at Padstow:

‘This was a very speedy rescue as the four men were in immediate danger with the boat literally breaking up under their feet. Fortunately thanks to Alan’s skilful boat handling in very shallow water we were able to get them off the boat and ashore in minutes and they are all well. Sadly the vessel is breaking up very quickly.  They’re regular visitors to Padstow, usually appearing for our annual Mayday celebrations, and it’s very sad to see their boat in such a terrible situation.’    

The call came just four and a half hours after the Padstow RNLI team had returned from assisting two people onboard a small yacht that had lost its rudder two miles north of Boscastle. The volunteer crew had towed the boat to safety, arriving back at their Trevose Head boathouse at half past midnight this morning.

Notes to editors
• Please find attached a library picture of the Padstow RNLI Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Spirit of Padstow. Please credit RNLI/Nigel Millard.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager south west on 07786 668847 or email Tamsin_Thomas@rnli.org.uk

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Falmouth coastguards received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting two persons in difficulties at the end of Pentire headland. Newquay’s volunteer crew were immediately tasked and both inshore lifeboats were launched with volunteer crew men Mark Morris and Joe Emmett at the helms.

Three adult males had climbed down the cliff onto rocks below. As they ascended, one fell approximately 25 feet back into the sea; hitting rocks on his way down. One of the group continued to the cliff top to raise the alarm, the third man scrambled back down and into the water to assist the man who had fallen. He successfully helped the injured casualty back onto the rocks about 8 feet above the sea where they sat and waited for help.

Arriving on scene, volunteer crew member and paramedic Christian Brown was transferred from the D class lifeboat directly onto the rocks where he then scrambled up to assess the injured man. The uninjured casualty was taken off the rocks in the D class to the waiting Atlantic lifeboat from where he was taken back to the safety of the harbour.

Rescue helicopter 193 arrived on scene shortly after the lifeboats; an overhanging ledge made access tricky, the winch man was lowered and then manoeuvred in towards the rocky plateau. Armed with entonox and a stretcher, Christian and the winch man calmed the casualty who was in considerable pain. They then managed to strap him in a stretcher. Both the casualty and the winch man were then lifted to the helicopter. Christian was then collected by the D class lifeboat and the lifeboats stood down.

Christian reflected on the rescue:

“The recovery was thwarted by the weather conditions, just after we arrived on scene it started to rain heavily, then the light failed and we were reliant on illumination from Rescue 193. The coastguards were unable to assist with illumination due to the position of the casualty under the rocky overhang. This all made things a bit more tricky.

“The casualties were very appreciative of all the rescue services and commended us on our response. They acknowledged that it wasn’t the best idea to climb down to the sea.”

The men were part of a party of about thirty from Switzerland

This was the first shout for new probationary crew member George Fox.

Page Content: The 12foot Fletcher speedboat, Miss Patricia, had launched from Criccieth earlier in the evening accompanied by a jet ski.  Both had set out on the 24 mile round trip to Abersoch for the evening in favourable conditions.  However, with the sea becoming heavier and darkness falling the speedboat ran out fuel near Abererch sands on its way back.  Concerned crew members aboard the station’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Doris Joan, already out on routine exercises in the area, went to their aid after realising they had not returned.  Crew member, Nigel Wright was placed aboard the stricken speedboat to establish a tow.  The boat’s occupants were placed on the lifeboat and provided with warming casualty smocks for the return journey to Criccieth.  Meanwhile the jet ski headed towards Criccieth, escorted by the stations inshore rescue boat, Margret a Nantw as it had no lights and rider was feeling the effects of the cold.

With onshore crew members waiting on the beach at Criccieth, the vessels were quickly recovered.  Following the incident, Criccieth’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Peter Williams commented “Luckily for the occupants of the speedboat, lifeboat crew members used their judgement to remain in the area on exercise as they’d noticed they hadn’t returned to shore.  With darkness falling, the wind strengthening and water temperatures still low there was a real danger that this could’ve become a more serious incident.  All too often we are called out to people who miscalculate the amount of fuel required for their journey – I urge all those taking to the sea, even on short journeys, to ensure they have sufficient supplies.  In addition, conditions at this time of year can change in an instant – people should always be prepared for cold conditions and allow enough time for their journeys.”      


ENDS

For further information, please contact Ifer Gwyn, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07554445316 or ifergwyn@hotmail.com

Page Content: The lifeboat was launched at 8:54 am with Coxswain Paul Whiston at the helm.  The volunteer lifeboat crew reached the vessel Silvery Sea at 9:30, and took her under tow back to St Ives, arriving at St Ives at 10:30.    After putting the fishing boat alongside Smeaton's Pier, the lifeboat was moored in the harbour and crew taken back to shore by local pleasure boat Dolly P who was about to take a group of visitors out for a pleasure trip. the lifeboat was then recovered at 12:30 before cleaning began in earnest ready for tomorrow's visit to the lifeboat station by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Page Content: The new evening race series got off to an unsuccessful start for one of the crews last night when a stray spinnaker halyard became entangled around the yachts rudder and propeller whilst the crew were manoeuvring at the start of the race. With restricted steerage and too close inshore to take any risk, the three people on board had no alternative but to call for assistance from Dover Coastguard. The volunteer crew of Eastbourne ALB were scrambled and were quickly on scene. The vessel was then taken under tow back to the marina locks.  

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The crew of the MPI Resolution decided in March 2013 that the proceeds of their welfare fund - money raised from an onboard shop and events such as raffles and tombolas - would be best donated to the RNLI. At this point the vessel, a large 6 legged jack-up ship used in offshore installations, was moored in the river Wear at the port of Sunderland. A very distinctive sight, which could be seen across the City. The Captain contacted the volunteer lifeboat station to invite the crew aboard for a tour of the vessel and receive the £1000 donation.  

Ben Mitchell a volunteer at Sunderland was one of the crew who went aboard to receive the donation. Money which will then be used to help the RNLI continue to save lives at sea. Ben is also is a full time crewman at Humber Lifeboat Station. The Humber crew were called upon at 7.58 am on Wednesday the 15 May to evacuate a crew member off a vessel who had became ill through the night and needed evacuation to hospital.

Ben commented:

‘When we got aboard the Lifeboat and contacted the coastguard to receive our task I was rather surprised to hear the name of the Resolution over the radio, having only seen her in the river at home two days before.’

The ship had set sail from Sunderland bound for Skegness on Tuesday (14 May) and the crewman had woken in the early hours in severe pain. After consultation with the coastguard it was decided the lifeboat would launch to collect the crewman and take him to Grimsby where he could be taken to hospital.'

The Humber lifeboat navigated approximately 20 miles North East of the station at Spurn Point where the distinctive outline of the vessel was seen by all crew before they came alongside and transferred the casualty. (Video linked)

Ben continued:

‘All the crew at Humber were extremely happy to be able to assist in getting the casualty where he needed to be, and it made it all the more special as the crew of the vessel had already decided to support the RNLI, for which the crew at Sunderland and Humber are extremely grateful.’

The crewman was landed at Grimsby were he was passed on to the Ambulance service. The RNLI wish him a speedy recovery.

The RNLI is a charity that relies on voluntary contributions to keep their lifeboats doing their essential lifesaving work. Sunderland is a volunteer lifeboat station based at the marina in the mouth of the River Wear. Humber Lifeboat Station is based at Spurn Point at the mouth of the Humber River.

Notes to Editors-

• Humber lifeboat station is the countries only fulltime coastal station, due to the difficulties and location at Spurn Point.

• Many of the Humber crew are volunteers at other stations when they are off duty.

• Sunderland Lifeboat is the country's longest continually running operational lifeboat station.

• You can follow both Lifeboat stations on Twitter @HumberLifeboat & @SunderlandRNLI .

Contacts 

Humber, Ben Mitchell -01964650228 or email – benjamin_mitchell@rnli.org.uk 
Sunderland, Paul Nicholson -07957 494 077 or email - pauldnich@yahoo.co.uk

 

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The alarm was raised to Aberdeen Coastguard around 6.30pm by one of the stranded youths to advise they required assistance and that one of the group had fallen. 

Invergordon RNLI all-weather lifeboat Douglas Aikman Smith launched at 6.37pm and arrived on scene 15 minutes later and located the youths 50ft up the jagged cliff face.  

The lifeboat’s daughter craft was used to access the shoreline and two of the volunteer crew made their way up the cliff face to the ledge where the youths were stranded.
RNLI crew  classed the conditions as too dangerous to safely take them back down, therefore Aberdeen Coastguard requested the assistance of RAF Rescue 137 from Lossiemouth.  

With the crew comforting the group aged from 16 to 22, the Sea king Helicopter arrived within 10 minutes and winched the three friends to the shoreline.  

The three youths, two sisters and a male friend, were taken back to the lifeboat to be assessed and warmed up, while the lifeboat made its way back to berth at Invergordon West Harbour.  

Andrew Murray, Invergordon RNLI Coxswain said, “They did the right thing and call for help and not attempt to climb back down the cliff.”

RNLI Media Contacts: Michael MacDonald, Invergordon volunteer lifeboat press officer, 07751 204647. 

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The crew worked closely with the Coastguard and paramedics to help the gentleman who is now making a good recovery.

The lifeboat had already helped the fishing boat, Charlie's Dreams, and its occupants in the early hours of Saturday near the Rhyminey River in the Bristol Channel, when they had towed the boat into Cardiff after it suffered engine problems. Now on it's way back to its original launch site after its engine was fixed and with two people on board, the boat had been reported as overdue. 

The Coastguard asked Penarth lifeboat crew and land-based coastguard teams to help look for the boat.  The coastguard team located the boat and directed the lifeboat to it.

When the Atlantic inshore lifeboat arrived they took one woman suffering from seasickness off and began to tow the boat back to harbour.

During the tow, the man on board, Darren Wembridge, said he was experiencing severe chest pains and the crew swiftly called on their colleagues in the D class inshore lifeboat, who were helping another boat elsewhere, to help.

The crew helped Darren onto the lifeboat and gave him advanced first aid as they took him quickly to a waiting ambulance. The crew transferred him to the paramedics who took him to hospital.

Darren said: 'Thank you for everything you have done for me and my partner over the weekend. I am forever grateful.'

Jason Dunlop, volunteer crew at Penarth and one of those treating Darren, said: 'It was a real team effort - the Coastguard team searched up the coast and spotted the boat, which meant that we could get there really quickly. Once we'd rescued him we were then able to pass him onto the paramedics.'

Jason continued: 'It just goes to show that telling someone when you're due back in harbour can be a lifesaver. We were there to help Darren because someone had reported the boat as overdue - we were in the right place at the right time and are so pleased to have been able to help Darren and hear that he is making a good recovery.'

The dramatic rescue came after a busy day for the Penarth crew. As well as the two launches to the fishing boat Charlie's Dreams, the crew had also helped a sailing boat at 11am. They were towing that boat back to harbour when it started taking on water and the crew were forced to beach it. They returned at 6pm to help refloat the yacht and make sure it was no longer taking on water. The yacht had been safely refloated when the call came for the D class inshore lifeboat to help the casualty suffering from chest pains.

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A helicopter was also tasked to this incident, as this arrived prior to the lifeboat, the lifeboat was stood
down and returned to station by 12:02.

RNLI media contacts

Iain Fulton Oban Lifeboat Press Officer, 01631 710001, 07855 555539

Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07771 943026, henry_weaver@rnli.org.uk

Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, richard_smith2@rnli.org.uk

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

www.obanlifeboat.co.uk
www.rnli.org.uk

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The volunteer lifeboat crew was paged at 5pm this evening (14 May) after the crew of the racing yacht requested assistance in entering Cork Harbour.

At 5.20pm, the inshore lifeboat launched with Vince Fleming, Richie Kelleher and Paddy Quinlan on board.

The 21ft yacht was taking part in a race from the UK to the Fastnet Rock when the crew of two decided to retire due to deteriorating weather conditions and make for Cork harbour.

With no engine and unsure of the entrance channel into the harbour, they asked for help and the lifeboat crew met them east of Roches Point.

The lifeboat proceeded to tow the vessel into Crosshaven.

Ends

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Jon Mathers, Crosshaven RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 086258874 or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk

Page Content: The station's Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, Doris Joan, was promptly launched to assist the stricken vessel, Water Wisp, which had one person onboard along with his a dog.  The well equipped yacht was reported aground near the channel's number 4 marker buoy, with the occupant reporting waves breaking over the vessel.  Once on scene, the Atlantic 85's Helmsman, Chris Fisher, decided to take the occupant and his dog off the vessel and return them to shore; however low tides precluded the lifeboat from coming alongside the casualty vessel.  Consequently, the station's smaller Arancia inshore rescue boat, Margret a Nantw, was tasked to transfer the occupants to the larger lifeboat, before being taken to Criccieth and transferred to the care of an awaiting Coastguard team-the smaller Arancia lifeboat stayed on scene awaiting the Atlantic 85's return.

With both lifeboats on scene, a towing line was established and the casualty vessel was towed away from the foreshore into deeper water.  As the casualty vessel was in relatively good repair, Senior Helmsman Paul Filby helmed the yacht safely into Porthmadog harbour, escorted by the Atlantic 85 lifeboat. 

By 10.00pm both lifeboats had returned to station and were ready for service.


ENDS

For further information, please contact Ifer Gwyn, Criccieth Lifeboat Press Officer on 07554445316 or ifergwyn@hotmail.com 

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Lowestoft RNLI all-weather lifeboat The Spirit of Lowestoft launched shortly after 2.53pm and on reaching the vessel found that a rope had become tangled around its propeller, disabling the engine.

The 35ft whelk boat, with two crew onboard, had been working out of Lowestoft and the lifeboat successfully towed the helpless vessel back to the safety of the harbour. 
 
Ends

RNLI media contacts

• Mick Howes, Lowestoft RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
01502 562488 / 07814 468917 email mickhowes@hotmail.com
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Page Content: Two persons, one in an open canoe and the other in a kayak, were reported by the Coastguard’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Stornoway as having difficulties in Gruinard Bay and a red flare had been sighted.

One of the two men, both whom were staying in the area on holiday, decided to take his canoe to sea off the beach at Mellon Udrigle on the west side of Gruinard Bay. Unfortunately his open Canadian style canoe caught too much of the wind and he soon found himself being blown out into the bay. His friend could see the canoe was having difficulty in the strong winds and decided to join him in his kayak. However, despite their best efforts for over an hour, the pair found themselves unable to make any headway back towards the beach against the wind, which by that time was blowing offshore at up to 25 miles per hour.

The men, seeing people watching from the beach, then tied their craft together and set off a red flare, recognised at sea as being an emergency distress signal. They also carried a mobile phone with them and used it to call the coastguard on 999 for assistance, resulting in the launch of the Lochinver lifeboat.

The lifeboat arrived in Gruinard Bay and located the two men about 40 minutes later, after a slightly rough passage down through the Summer Isles in a choppy sea. As the lifeboat came into view, the pair let off an orange smoke flare, also recognised at sea as an emergency distress signal. This made locating them significantly easier for the crew of the lifeboat and the two men were quickly taken aboard and their craft recovered from the water. Appropriate casualty care was administered in the form of a number of chocolate biscuits as both men were warm in their dry suits and appeared to be fit and well and in good spirits, just a little peckish.

The coxswain of the lifeboat on the day, Bruce MacKenzie, said; ”The two men were prepared for being at sea; wearing dry suits and carrying lifejackets and flares to attract attention. The only other equipment they might consider carrying in future is a VHF radio as an essential piece of kit for communicating at sea beyond the range of mobile phones.”
 
The lifeboat then returned closer in to the beach at Mellon Udrigle and the two men were taken ashore by the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable boat and landed on the beach, followed by their canoe and kayak.

When asked what his plans were for the rest of the afternoon, the canoeist insisted he would not be going back to sea and instead would be walking his dog very much on dry land.

The lifeboat then departed Gruinard Bay at 01:45 pm and returned to Lochinver and was tied up alongside her own pontoon ready for service again at 03:50 pm.

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The Sennen Cove RNLI Tamar class lifeboat City of London III was launched, with six volunteer lifeboat crew on board, to go to her assistance at 3.55 pm.  

The lifeboat arrived with the casualty at 5.15 pm and the volunteer crew set up a tow. The long haul to Newlyn began at 5.30 pm. In fact good speed was made, helped with favourable tides around Land's End. The lifeboat and casualty arrived safely at Newlyn at midnight.

Once the Sparkling Line was berthed, the City of London III returned to Sennen Cove and was recovered at 2.00 am.  A special mention should be made of the shorecrew, led by Brian Andrews, for turning out at such an early time to recover the lifeboat, as well as a tribute to the stamina of the six crew members after a 10 hour stint at sea

Media Contacts

For more information please contact Brian Simpson, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 01736 871 631/07762 057127 or bsennen @btinternet.com

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The life raft was initially spotted by RNLI volunteer crew member, Barney Stevens who was on duty as part of the charity’s lifeguard team patrolling Gwithian beach. 

Barney contacted Falmouth coastguard who requested the lifeboat launch. Using Barney’s initial information along with further details from the National Coastwatch Institution who are based on the Island at St Ives and who had sight of the life raft, the lifeboat crew located it two nautical miles north of Godrevy lighthouse.

Paul Whiston, RNLI all weather lifeboat Coxswain at St Ives says;

‘As soon as we sighted the life raft, it was immediately obvious that there was no one inside. It was taken aboard the lifeboat and bought back to St Ives in good condition.  On arrival at the harbour, we were able to check the serial number and trace it to the motor vessel Cwind Athenia who had reported a life raft that had been lost over board off Lands End the day before (Sunday 12 May)’
 
Notes to Editors
• Please find attached an image of the St Ives RNLI crew with the life raft aboard the lifeboat, credit RNLI/St Ives
• Footage of the incident is available to view and download from the RNLI News Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Press Officer on 07920 818 807 or amy_caldwell@rnli.org.uk

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The two girls and boy, in their late teens/early 20s, had gone for a walk and were spotted waving from the island by a local resident who contacted the emergency Services and Galway RNLI.

Conditions at the time (4pm) were changeable with heavy showers.

Three volunteer members of the inshore lifeboat crew were working in the vicinity of the station  at the time and launched the boat in six minutes. 

The three students were picked up safely and brought back to the lifeboat station at Galway Docks where they were warmed up and given tea.  They did not require medical attention.

The lifeboat crew on this callout were helm David Oliver, Dara Oliver, David Badger and Olivia Byrne.

Lifeboat shore crew John Bryne said: 'The three students did the right thing waiting on the island and not attempting to get off'.

Ends 

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Regina Daly, Galway RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087-9618355, email regdaly@gmail.com or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk 

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The RNLI's all weather Trent class lifeboat Gough Ritchie 2 was called out after a member of the public spotted the capsized dinghy in Castletown bay and called the coastguard at Liverpool.

The lifeboat with its volunteer crew were quickly on the scene and soon established that the two men had managed to get back onto the dinghy and return safely to Castletown harbour. The Gough Ritchie 2 under the command of 2nd coxwain Michael Kneale returned to Port St Mary at 1.30pm.

Media Contacts

For further information, please contact Lifeboat Press Officer David Kneen on 07624 429722.

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The volunteer lifeboat crew based at Carrybridge launched their inshore lifeboat the Jason Logg, at 10.33pm on Saturday evening (11 May) following a report that a 28ft bayliner had broken down one and a half miles north of Carrybridge. 

Weather conditions at the time were described as calm with a north westerly force three wind blowing.

Arriving on scene, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and checked the boat over ensuring that the three crew on board were ok.

The vessel was subsequently towed back to Carrybridge at the owner's request.

Ends

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Stevie Ingram, Enniskillen Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 02868631718, email stepheningram69@hotmail.com or telephone Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 00353 87 648 3547, email Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Tel: 00 353 87 1254 124 or Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk

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A request for assistance was received from HM Coastguard at 8.30pm and both
lifeboats were launched immediately.

An extensive search was carried out by the RNLI volunteers and Coastguard teams
but no trace of anyone in the water was found.

After approximately two hours the search teams were stood down when notification
was received that the person reported to be in the water had been traced elsewhere.

RNLI media contacts: Rod McLean, Arbroath volunteer lifeboat press officer, 07850
255360, email roderick.mclean@breedonaggregates.com

Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 07786 668903, email
Richard_Smith2@rnli.org.uk

Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 07771
943026, email henry_weaver@rnli.org.uk

Page Content: The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 8.15 yesterday morning (Sunday 12 May) following a report that a 30ft fishing boat had incurred a mechanical problem and lost power some three miles north east of Rosslare Harbour.

The lifeboat crew members under Deputy Second Coxswain Art Sheil were on scene at 8.50am where having assessed the situation, they proceed to establish a towline and take the stricken vessel under tow.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good.

The three men, who had been whelk fishing when they got into difficulty, were not in any immediate danger and all were returned safely to Rosslare Harbour at approximately 11am.

Speaking following the call out, Dave Maloney, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The crew on board the stricken vessel did the right thing when they got into difficulty sending out a call for assistance. The lifeboat crew responded quickly and were more than happy to be able to bring the boat under tow returning it and its crew safely to shore’.

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RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk

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They were tasked to go to the assistance of the French Yacht Etoile Australe reported to have gone aground close to the Looe Channel buoys.

Nothing had been heard from the yacht since issuing their initial May Day call and concern was growing for the two male crew members on board.

Approximately 10 minutes after launching, contact was established with the casualty by Solent Coastguard. The casualty crew confirmed that they weren’t aground and were unharmed but the yacht had sustained damage. They gave an updated position which put them a lot further out to sea.  At 7.40am the inshore lifeboat was returned to station whilst the Voluntary Worker carried on and eventually at 7.52am rendezvoused with the casualty approximately 6.5 miles southeast of the lifeboat station.

It transpired that the Etoile Australe was a 60 foot ocean racing yacht and she hadn’t run aground but had encountered a large sea in the Looe Channel which had swept the deck, tearing away her sails and ripping fittings out of the deck, disabling her and making her impossible to steer.

A towline was passed and at 8.01am a course was set for Portsmouth Harbour. Slow progress at a speed of about 3 knots was made into a rough sea. At 12.12pm the Voluntary Worker and Etoile Australe entered Portsmouth Harbour and by 12.51pm the casualty was safely berthed in Haslar Marina. At 1.08pm Selsey lifeboat departed Portsmouth Harbour to return to station arriving back at 2.26pm and was rehoused straight away and made ready for service once more at 3.00pm.

The ALB Voluntary Worker was crewed by Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Dave Lamdin (2nd Coxswain), Mike Pledger (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Craig Sergeant, John Reeves and Andy Lee.

The ILB Betty & Thomas Moore was crewed by Colin Pullenger (Helmsman), Will Moir, Sam Troughton-Smith and Chris Harvey.

Selsey RNLI coxswain Martin Rudwick said: 'The racing yacht Etoile Australe had a competent crew. The sea state was moderate to rough with a strong southwesterly force 7 wind, it just goes to show that no matter how experienced you are or how well you may plan your journey. You never know when you will need the services of the RNLI. That’s why the RNLI exists – to help people in difficulty like this.’

Notes to editors

• Selsey RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 1861. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.selseylifeboats.co.uk 
• Photos and videos of Selsey RNLI lifeboat and crew can be viewed at the RNLI Press Centre at www.rnli.org.uk/press

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

• Ruth Troughton-Smith, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Selsey RNLI, on 07795 253659 or dogsville100@tiscali.co.uk
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk 
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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Three people were pulled from the water when their small boat got into difficulty off Bray earlier today (Sunday 12 May).

A local boat responded to the Mayday alert and brought the casualties to safety.

The RNLI lifeboat from Dun Laoghaire and the Greystones Coast Guard boat took the boat that was almost fully submersed under tow to shore.

Winds gusted to storm force towards the end of the operation but conditions were otherwise fresh with only choppy waves off the coast.

The incident occurred shortly after midday when the 15ft speedboat was almost one mile from Bray Harbour.

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RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact David Branigan, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 086 253 7782 or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk

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Once on scene they found a local man had become stuck in the mud while bait digging. The lifeboat crew worked with the fire and rescue team to lay mud mats next to the man. He was then sat down and the crews freed his legs from his boots.

He was checked over and then helped to the riverbank where an ambulance crew assessed him.

Inshore lifeboat senior helmsman Mark Hayes said: 'We worked quickly with our colleagues from fire and rescue to free the man as the tide was coming in. Fortunately he wasn’t hurt - just stuck.'

The inshore lifeboat was in action again on Saturday 11 May when it was called to a broken down vessel at 2.05pm.

The 17ft speedboat Black Pearl with two people onboard was drifting into the gantry of the lifeboat station.

The lifeboat crew set up a tow and took the speedboat to its launching point at Emerald Quay, Shoreham Beach.

The inshore lifeboat was also called to a broken down fishing boat Marie K with two people onboard on Wednesday 8 May at 8.40pm up the River Adur by the old footbridge, Shoreham. The lifeboat had just completed an exercise. The vessel was towed to Sussex Yacht Club.

Photo caption: Shoreham lifeboat crew and fire and rescue team working together to free the man from the mud. Credit: Shoreham Coastguard

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www.shorehamlifeboat.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter @SLifeboatRNLI

 

RNLI media contacts

Michelle Tugwell, RNLI Shoreham volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO) 07714 080333, email michelletugwell@btinternet.com

Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426/07785 296252, email tim_ash@rnli.org.uk

Philly Byrde RNLI Press Officer (London/East /South East) 0207 6207425/07786 668825 email philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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The vessel with two persons aboard was proving difficult to right in the blustery conditions, so the lifeboat crew assisted by helping to drop the water filled sails and pulled the vessel upright using the lifeboat.

With both sailors ok to continue the lifeboat was then called at 2.50pm to a Fletcher 19ft speedboat with loss of power, off Leigh.

The speedboat with one adult and one child aboard, was safely towed back to Leigh Marina.

Southend lifeboat returned to the pierhead boathouse for a wash down and refuel.

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RNLI media contacts

• Denis Freeman – Southend Lifeboat Station Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
TEL-  07710406661, sue-den-adwalk@blueyonder.co.uk
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / tim_ash@rnli.org.uk
• Philly Byrde, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 / philly_byrde@rnli.org.uk 
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789