Aberdeen Lifeboat assists person stranded on City’s north breakwater
Aberdeen Lifeboat assists person stranded on City’s north breakwater
Lifeboats News Release
Aberdeen’s inshore lifeboat launched on Thursday evening, 14 September, to assist a member of the public who had become stranded on the north breakwater at Aberdeen Harbour.
Friends of the casualty, who had stayed on the shore side of the safety barrier, had called for assistance when they realised their colleague was stranded and distressed.
The volunteer crew of Aberdeen’s inshore lifeboat launched at 8.30pm and were on scene in a few minutes.
Two crew-members were landed on the breakwater to reassure and assist the casualty. The lifeboat helmsman decided the safest means of bringing the casualty to safety was to request Scottish Fire & Rescue to bring cutting gear to get through the fence.
An Aberdeen Lifeboat spokesman said: 'Security fences on piers and breakwaters are there to protect the public. Because of the risk of waves washing over the structures, potentially sweeping people into the water, the public should never attempt to climb over or round these fences.'
Effective teamwork involving Aberdeen Lifeboat, Scottish Fire & Rescue and Aberdeen Coastguard allowed the casualty to be brought to safety about 40 minutes after the alarm was raised. The inshore lifeboat returned to base and was readied for further service.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
