Three taskings in less than 24 hours for Walmer RNLI crews
Walmer lifeboat volunteers responded to their fourth, fifth and sixth emergency calls of the year so far on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 February.
Wednesday’s tasking, at 5.50pm saw Atlantic lifeboat Hounslow Branch launch into fading light to a report of a person in difficulty afloat in a small dinghy about a mile off St Margaret’s Bay near Dover. The casualty was located and taken on board the lifeboat where they were handed a lifejacket and given a health check before being taken to Dover Harbour and handed into the care of the emergency services. The lifeboat was recovered back at station at 7.45pm.
On Thursday, D Class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard II launched at 4.49pm to an unidentified object spotted by the Coastguard Rescue Team floating about 200 metres offshore in Sandwich Bay. On arrival, the crew discovered a pot marker covered in seaweed resembling hair, though the lifeboat conducted a further search from the Bay towards Ramsgate.
At 5.20pm, a retasking from HM Coastguard directed crew to a report of a yacht with its sail down possibly in difficulty and sinking about two-and-a-half miles east of the Dover Patrol Memorial. When on scene, and as last evening in fading light the crew set off a paraflare but nothing was discovered.
At 5.41pm Hounslow Branch launched to assist with the search at the Memorial. Both lifeboats were stood down at 6.11pm and after carrying out a line abreast search on the way back to the station, were recovered at 6.45pm.
Launch Authority Neil Ferguson said after recovery: ‘These launches have shown the value of the training of the crews in different conditions. Their local knowledge and experience with tides, tidal drift and search patterns ensured a satisfactory outcome.’
Notes to editors
Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.
It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Hounslow Branch and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.
Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry
To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
- Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
- Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]
- Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305 [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [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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