Amble RNLI rescues young fisherman cut-off by the tide

Amble’s RNLI volunteer crew launched their inshore D class lifeboat D-867 Alf and Dora Whiting at 1.56pm when a call came in for a young fisherman who had been cut-off by the tide on Little Rock, located 1.5 miles south of Amble.

Conditions were sunny with a flat calm as the inshore lifeboat (ILB) and four RNLI crew members made full speed down the jagged Northumberland coastline.

Upon arriving level with Little Rock, the RNLI ILB and crew carefully approached the stranded casualty. The young person had been out fishing on the rocks and had not noticed the tide coming in behind. Nearby family members - who had been located on higher ground - had raised the alarm.

After a few minutes of careful manoeuvring towards the coastline’s rocky outcrop, the crew of the Alf and Dora Whiting ILB successfully retrieved the young person before tidal currents submerged the rock upon which he had been standing.

The casualty was brought aboard, checked for medical issues and subsequently reunited with family members upon a nearby beach.

Among the RNLI volunteer crew, this launch was the first for Amble’s tier-2 ILB crew member Adam Taylor.

On the launch, ILB Helm Aaron Armstrong said: ‘Amble’s ILB crew successfully retrieved a young person who had been caught unaware by the incoming tide as he fished upon Little Rock. His family called for assistance and we launched straight away.

Upon arrival, we made use of our ILB’s impressive manoeuvrability to approach in a confined spot inaccessible to our all-weather lifeboat.

We collected the casualty in just a few minutes. The tide would have submerged the rock entirely within another twenty to thirty minutes.’

John Wingfield, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Amble's RNLI lifeboat station, said: 'This was a quick and professional job carried out by our ILB crew with the perfect outcome.'

When by the shoreline, ILB Helm Aaron Armstrong recommends checking tide times before setting out, ensuring to remain vigilant of changing conditions and to carry a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch should a call for assistance be needed.

The RNLI crew at Amble Lifeboat Station are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to answer the call to save lives at sea.

Notes to Editors

· The present Amble inshore lifeboat (ILB) D-687 Alf and Dora Whiting has been on station since 2022.

· Amble lifeboat station is situated within a busy fishing port on the Northumberland coast. The RNLI crews at Amble lifeboat station have received 18 awards for gallantry.

· With over 60 years’ service, the RNLI D class lifeboat has helped to save thousands of lives at sea and serves as the workhorse of the RNLI fleet today.

· The Helm of the Amble inshore lifeboat (ILB) is currently training to be a Coxswain on the Amble all-weather lifeboat (ALB) Shannon 13-16 Elizabeth and Leonard.

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For further information, please contact:

Gillian Carmoodie, RNLI Communications Placement (North and East) on [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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