Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat tows yacht 20 miles to safety

The 40 foot yacht, with four crew on board, was on passage from Inverness to Lowestoft when its steering gear failed 20 miles to the east of Eyemouth and was lying beam on to the moderate sea.  A 100 metre cargo vessel was in the location of Prologue and contacted Aberdeen Coastguard to offer any assistance and was requested to stand-by the yacht until the lifeboat arrived.

Eyemouth lifeboat arrived on scene after 50 minutes and its volunteer crew prepared to pass a tow to the Prologue.  Once the tow was set up, the cargo ship was released by the Coastguard and continued on its original passage.

Once under tow, the Prologue reported to the lifeboat that one its crew had been suffering from severe sea-sickness for the past 48 hours and was very dehydrated.  This message was relayed to the Coastguard who arranged for an ambulance to meet the crew on arrival in harbour.  The crew of the yacht was advised by the lifeboat to monitor the situation and should there be any change in the condition of the casualty, they should contact the lifeboat immediately.

The tow back to Eyemouth took three hours, during which the casualty’s condition remained stable, once the Prologue was safely alongside the pier, paramedics assessed the casualty and were content that they did not require hospital treatment.  Once no further assistance was required, the lifeboat was stood down and made ready for service again.

Notes to Editors

• Eyemouth lifeboat station has been operating since 1876.
• Follow Eyemouth Lifeboat on Facebook – search for Eyemouth Lifeboat

Picture

Eyemouth lifeboat tows Prologue

RNLI media contacts

Eyemouth lifeboat press officer, Adam Ferguson, adam.ferguson@hotmail.co.uk

Richard Smith, Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or Richard_Smith2@rnli.org.uk

RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336 789

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, 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.

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