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Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI rescue Mother & Child cut off by tide near Broadford

Lifeboats News Release

Kyle RNLI's volunteer crew continued their extremely busy week when they were paged at 6:23pm Saturday 20 August to reports of a mother and her child cut off by the tide whilst walking on the Ashaig coastline

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Kyle lifeboat launched at 6:30pm yesterday at the request of Stornoway Coastguard, after the Dutch tourists got stuck on a small island between Ashaig and Broadford.  The lifeboat made best speed towards the scene and began a search of the many small islands and rocks along that stretch of coastline.  The Coastguard unit from Broadford then located the casualties and updated the crew with their position, however due to the difficult and rocky nature of the shallow waters in that area, it took the lifeboat a while to reach the 2 people.  The crew assessed the condition of the casualties who were cold but otherwise uninjured, before taking them onboard the lifeboat and transferring them to the Coastguard unit at Broadford pier.  The lifeboat then returned to Kyle and was refuelled and ready for service again at 7.50pm.

A Kyle RNLI spokesperson said: ‘They were very happy to see us as they were both beginning to get very cold.  They had been walking along the coast and were caught by the speed of the incoming tide which is very quick in that area’.

At 9:20am this morning the lifeboat crew were back in action for the 6th time in as many days, after reports were received of a dinghy adrift in Scalpay bay.  The lifeboat arrived on scene and took the small vessel, which was in a state of disrepair, under tow back to Kyle.

Speaking of the recent busy period, the spokesperson said: ‘This has been a remarkable week with an unprecedented 6 shouts in the past 6 days. Happily, all of them had a successful outcome and we have rescued 13 people and 1 dog.  We are all volunteers and have full time jobs, however thanks to some understanding bosses we are able to drop everything and respond when the pager goes off’.

 

 Notes to editors:

  • For further details on the 2 people rescued, please contact Stornoway Coastguard
  • Picture shows a crew member assessing the condition of the casualties whilst the lifeboat stands by.
  • Please credit picture to Kyle RNLI

 

RNLI media contacts:

Andrew MacDonald, Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07748 707606 or [email protected]

Or Richard Smith, Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]

Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Andrew MacDonald
Volunteer Press Officer/Crew Member, Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI

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