Withernsea RNLI launched following light aircraft crash

The UK Coastguard had received a distress beacon alert indicating that someone was in difficulty off the coast of Withernsea.

Withernsea RNLI were launched around 12.15pm to search an area three miles east of Withernsea. Local coastguard rescue teams and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Humberside were also involved in the search.

While they were searching, the UK Coastguard received a call from the pilot, who had managed to escape the wreckage after crash landing on the shoreline and climbed up cliffs near Holmpton to raise the alarm.

Volunteer RNLI crew member Dan Lythe said: ‘It was a challenge to launch our inshore lifeboat from the beach today due to a big swell and relentless waves. We train twice a week to ensure we can cope with any conditions and today was a real test of that.

'We're very relieved the pilot is safe - today shows you never know what might happen along the coast.'

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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