Portishead RNLI called out twice in 12 hours

The first call came in at 3.14pm on Saturday (16 July) the second was at 3.12am on Sunday morning whilst you were all tucked up in bed.

On Saturday afternoon the crew were paged to a jet skier who was reported to have lost all power and had a child on board. n Saturday afternoon the crew were paged to a jet skier who was reported to have lost all power and had a child on board.

A passing boat owner called the Coastguard and asked for the lifeboat and then remained with them until the RNLI volunteers arrived to assist them back to safety.

The child was taken on board RNLI lifeboat My Lady Anne where she received a check by one of the crew members who is a doctor for his day job. Although quite cold her smile soon returned when she was wrapped up in warm blankets and jackets. They were then taken to the safety of Portishead Quays Marina and handed over to Portishead Coastguards.

Almost exactly 12 hours later, the volunteer lifeboat crew were called out again at 3.12am after a person was reported calling for help up the River Avon by the Old Sludge Jetty near Shirehampton. With an incoming tide the lifeboat rushed to the scene where they assisted three teams of Coastguards from Portishead, Clevedon and Sharpness and the Avon Fire Mud Rescue Team.

The RNLI volunteers with their search light were able to communicate and find the person deep in the mud.  They were then able to guide the other agencies to his location. After struggling to try and free himself from the mud for more than two hours he had sunk even deeper and was now up to his chest. 

Thankfully his cries for help where heard from a member of the public who then alerted the Coastguard. The Coastguards and Fire Service worked as a team to extract him from the mud, which took in excess of 90 minutes. With the Police and HART (Hazardous Response Team) and Ambulance at the scene the man was taken to hospital to be checked over.

A great show of multi agency team work which resulted in another life saved.

Always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard if you are in any doubt that someone is in trouble. #RespectTheWater

If you want to see the RNLI at work  don’t miss Saving Lives At Sea, BBC1, 9pm.

RNLI notes to editors

Photos are ©RNLI Portishead
1. All wrapped up nice and warm
2. Jet ski returning to Portishead Quays Marina
3. A Life Saved, RNLI Volunteers locate man in the mud
4. Volunteer crew waiting at 4am for My Lady Anne to return
5. My Lady Anne comes back to Station

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For more information please contact Helen Lazenby, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07800 595995 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland