Rhyl and New Brighton RNLI involved in extensive search in River Mersey

Rhyl’s All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was called to assist with a multi-agency search in the river that had begun the night before involving New Brighton RNLI. In the early hours of Monday, the pager went off at approximately 2.36am calling the Rhyl volunteer crew to the station, and the ALB was launched at approximately 3.10am. Rhyl joined the multi-agency search from approx. 4.30am, alongside New Brighton RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat, as well as Marine Fire One and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from multiple locations.

Rhyl’s ALB crew and other services searched the river extensively. After nothing was found, the lifeboat and other assets were stood down at approximately 9am. The ALB then made its way back to the station by around 10.12am, where launch and recovery crew members were waiting to assist.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said:

‘Everyone involved made a good team effort including the crew onboard, the launch and recovery crew, the work of our fellow crew at New Brighton RNLI and the Search and Rescue assets. Everyone executed the search well and worked hard throughout the early hours.’

The station would like to thank everyone for their hard work, both the volunteers and crew members as well as other agencies involved, and we thank the public for all their continued support.

We’d also like to remind everyone to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard whenever there is any potential sightings of anyone in difficulty or who you believe may be in danger in the water, regardless of when, where or what time it may be.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Mia Morrison, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [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]

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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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