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Tenby lifeboat goes to aid of vessel drifting after skipper becomes ill

Lifeboats News Release

Tenby's all weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 1.40pm on Monday 15th June, after the coastguard received a call from the occupants of a yacht reporting that their skipper had become ill one mile south of Caldey island.

RNLI/Ben James

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The volunteer crew were quickly on the water and made best speed to the reported position of the yacht, which was reported to have three persons and a dog onboard.

Once alongside the vessel, they discovered that the skipper was suffering badly from seasickness and that the other two crew members were unable to sail it themselves.

After a thorough assessment by the Coxswain, it was decided that with the nobody to sail the vessel, which was now drifting with the tide towards Caldey island and also a potential navigational hazard to other vessels, the safest course of action would be to tow it back to Tenby. Two crew members were put aboard the casualty vessel to assist setting up the tow and to monitor the seasick sailor on the trip back.

After a tow of around an hour, the casualty vessel was placed on the lifeboat mooring in the calmer waters of North Bay, before the lifeboat returned to station, arriving at 3.15pm.

RNLI/Ben James

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RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ben James, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, ben[email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Ben James
Lifeboat Press Officer, Tenby Lifeboat Station

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