Dover RNLI and HMC 'Valiant' respond to Mayday call

The small blue fishing vessel was located within the busy separation zones in the channel and needed immediate assistance when he was taking on water whilst also suffering engine failure.

UK Border Force’s Cutter Valiant rapidly diverted from their routine patrols in the English Channel and was the first on scene. They rescued one man from the small vessel and assessed the nature of the Mayday.

Dover RNLI’s Severn class lifeboat, City of London II, was on scene by 2.15am to aid HMC Valiant with the vessel and casualty. 
 
James Clapham, Coxswain for Dover RNLI said: 'Once HMC Valiant was on scene it was determined only the assistance of Dover RNLI was required. We took transfer of one 57-year-old man into our care and diverted our attention to recovering the small vessel he was aboard.'

The man had been at sea on his own since 5pm the previous evening, a very long duration to be on your own in such a busy channel. We recommend you always have extra support on board when making such long journeys and travelling at night.'

Due to previous health conditions of the casualty Dover RNLI requested support from South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB) to give the man a welfare check once they returned to Dover Harbour at 5.15am. The man was deemed well and discharged by paramedics with no need for further treatment.

Dover RNLI volunteer shore crew member, Ed Baker, said: 'This proved to be a sleepless night for a large number of our volunteer crew members and once again showed great multi-agency co-operation getting to the distressed vessel quickly.'

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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, Carrybridge 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.

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