Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI assist in coordinated search for missing person

Helm Michael Percy, with competent Tier 2 crew Sean Dixon and Shona Richardson made haste up the river Tweed.

In coordination with Northumbria Police, Northumbria Police Helicopter and HM Coastguard they were given different navigation places to search along the river banks.

Local knowledge for all services proved excellent, knowing where possibly the casualty could be.

The weather was starting to get cooler and darkness had fallen, HM Coastguard gave Berwick-upon-Tweed lifeboat crew another position for them to search.

Helm Michael Percy asked crew member Sean Dixon to wade towards the shore line and search the area. He was met by a Northumbria Police Officer and asked to walk another roughly 50 yards down the riverbank.

At 11:45pm Sean could hear a faint noise coming from what is known as the Plantation, he said: ‘I shouted out if anyone could hear me and received a reply. I located the casualty who was in the woodland area off the bank of the river.

'I called in the location so I could receive further instructions from the emergency services. Meanwhile whilst awaiting more help to arrive I assessed the casualty and kept talking to him to keep calm till help arrived.

'It was a great feeling of relief to find the casualty and help get him safely back up the riverbank with the help of the other emergency services.’

RNLI helm Michael Percy said: 'This was an excellent example of how all emergency services can work in a coordinated way using all the skills and knowledge we train for, to find a missing person.’

The casualty once brought up the riverbank was then handed over to awaiting paramedics for further assessment.

The lifeboat crew then were stood down and returned to the lifeboat station where the boat was washed down and made ready for service again.

Earlier in the week, at 1.22pm on 26 May, HM Coastguard asked for the launch of the Berwick-upon-Tweed D class lifeboat, to aid a Kayaker who had fallen into the water off Spittal beach. Fortunately the person managed to get safely back to shore.

The RNLI has recently launched its Float to Live campaign, for more information, please visit: RNLI.org/Float

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