Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat volunteers called out to two separate Jet-Ski in
The Sheerness inshore lifeboat launched twice in the space of two hours on the evening of Sunday 11 August to separate un-related jet-ski incidents in the Swale and Medway Estuary areas.
The first call came at 5.11pm requesting assistance to reports of a yacht being harassed by jet-skiers and one person had been knocked into the water.
Launching at 5.25pm with a crew of three the lifeboat arrived on the scene at 5.40pm to find that it was the Peel Port Harbour Masters RIB with two persons onboard that had been attacked and not a yacht as first reported.
When the lifeboat arrived at the scene the jet-skis had already left the area, leaving the two people on the RIB very shaken and also wet after having been almost swamped by the reckless actions of the jet-skiers. They reported that no one had been in the water as first reported.
Having escorted the RIB back to Sheerness Docks the lifeboat was stood down and was ready for further service at 6.40pm.
Wind E3, slight seas and slack water.
The inshore lifeboat launched again at 8.25 pm to reports of two jet-skis that had suffered machinery failure and were drifting in The Swale off the Elmley Nature Reserve shoreline.
The lifeboat crew located the casualties at 9.00pm,well aground and approximately two cables (440mtrs) from any water.
The crew requested assistance from the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team with their mud rescue equipment. Due to the remote location, there was no access point anywhere near the casualties so a call was put through requesting the Coastguard Helicopter to attend.
The recue helicopter was already out on another tasking. After that job was completed and the helicopter re-fuelled it arrived on scene at approximately 11.00pm and lifted both casualties to safety leaving their jet-skis on the mud flats where they were later recovered by the owners.
The lifeboat was back on station at 11.26pm and after cleaning and refuelling was ready for further service at 00.30am
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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.
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