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Disabled Speedboat Assisted North of Cockenzie

Lifeboats News Release

Kinghorn RNLI lifeboat crew was called out to assist a broken down speedboat North of Cockenzie on Saturday afternoon.

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The lifeboat crew was paged at 4.20pm on Saturday following a call for assistance from the vessel by mobile phone, after the engine failed.
 
The lifeboat launched into slight sea conditions, and a force 4 easterly wind, and arrived on scene 15 minutes later.  
 
Lifeboat helm, Mike Chalmers, said, ‘We quickly located the boat off Cockenzie where it was drifting.
 
‘The 5m boat had suffered engine failure. The two people onboard were wearing buoyancy aids, and were not suffering from any injuries.
 
‘We took both crew onto the lifeboat and set up a tow of the small boat.
 
‘The vessel was towed back to Port Seton, and we landed the two casualties there to awaiting coastguard personnel from North Berwick.
 
‘The RNLI’s current campaign called ‘Respect the Water’ aims to raise awareness of coastal risks, and reduce the number of incidents, sometimes leading to fatalities, around the coast of the UK and Ireland. Engine failure is the biggest single cause of RNLI callouts to motorboats, and this is the second time we have assisted this boat.
 
‘Boats should be well maintained, and professionally serviced before taking to the water. We would also recommend that proper lifejackets and a VHF radio are used.’
 
Kinghorn lifeboat crew was Mike Chalmers, Mel McGarva, Suzanne Baillie, Peter Cunningham, and John Ketchin.
 
Notes to editors
  • Kinghorn lifeboat station has been operating since 1965. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/kinghorn
  • Photos show the recovery of the small boat.
 
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please telephone Neil Chalmers, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07767 380274 or [email protected] or Richard Smith on 07786 668903 or at [email protected] Henry Weaver on 07771 943026 or at [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
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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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About the author

Neil Chalmers
Helm and Lifeboat Press Officer, Kinghorn Lifeboat Station

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