Dad-of-two thanks RNLI crew after tender capsizes in River Medway
A father-of-two has thanked Sheerness RNLI volunteers after he and a friend were left stranded in the River Medway when their overloaded dinghy capsized near Upnor Reach.
Sheerness RNLI launched their relief all-weather lifeboat, Eric’s Legend, on the evening of March 17 after two men were left in the cold water when a tender overturned while travelling to a yacht moored on the river.
The pair spent around 30 minutes in the water before managing to get back onto their yacht. They were later transferred safely by the crew to Chatham Marina pontoon and handed over to the Coastguard.
Tim Luxton, 74, from Herne Hill in London, had been visiting a friend in Kent at the time of the incident.
The experienced sailor said he and his friend had been transporting tools to the yacht and had made similar journeys before, but on this occasion, the small tender became overloaded and tipped over.
Reflecting on the incident afterwards, Mr Luxton said: “After spending half an hour in the water, and then another hour or so in freezing clothes, we were both shaking and chattering from the cold, and the arrival of Eric’s Legend was a blessing.
“We both felt embarrassed at calling out the lifeboat but hugely grateful that we were treated with such consideration and friendly bonhomie.”
Mr Luxton recalled the crew ushering the pair below deck, wrapping them in blankets and checking them for signs of hypothermia.
He described the rescue as “a blurry, surreal experience” and one he won't forget for a long time.
The retired freelance journalist, producer and director, also reflected on how differently the incident could have ended.
He said: "We capsized in our small tender, and that was our mistake. Two big men and two boxes of heavy tools. What can I say?
“If we hadn’t had lifejackets on, who knows what might have happened?
“It was just after low tide, but the tide wasn’t running fast. If it had been, we might not have been able to get back to the yacht. We could have been washed upstream in the freezing cold.”
Despite losing an angle grinder and six batteries in the water, Mr Luxton said the incident has not put him off sailing.
Instead, he said it had reinforced the importance of preparation and safety.
He finished: "There are so many ifs and buts, but a few solid lessons to learn, first and not least, get a bigger dinghy and always remember, even in calm waters, things can go wrong.
“To quote Reacher, one of my favourite fictional anti-heroes, ‘hope for the best, prepare for the worst’.
“You can be sure we will be doing just that from now on.”
Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Alan Carr, said the incident highlights how quickly things can go wrong on the water, even in calm conditions.
He explained: “This incident shows just how quickly things can change on the water, even for experienced sailors.
“Thankfully both men were wearing lifejackets and were able to call for help.
“We would always encourage people to remember the RNLI’s Float to Live advice if they find themselves in difficulty in the water. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float until you can control your breathing.
“And if you see someone in trouble at the coast or on the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Megan Carr, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Sheerness, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [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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