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Drifting dinghy leads to search off the north Kent coast

Lifeboats News Release

Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat has taken part in a search after four people in a small dinghy were thought to be in trouble off the north Kent coast.

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The alarm was raised late last night (Friday 6 May) by a member of the public who contacted coastguards reporting they were concerned about the safety of a small dinghy with four people on board which was drifting off Herne Bay.

 

Margate lifeboat was launched to search for the vessel along with the coastguard helicopter from Lydd Airport and coastguard shore teams from Herne Bay and Margate. The search, in fine weather conditions, covered an area from Herne Bay to Reculver and further to the east up to around two miles to seaward including offshore sand banks. After three hours, with nothing found and no communication with any possible casualty vessel or reports of anyone overdue the search was scaled down and the units returned to station. The call is thought to have been a false alarm with good intent.

 

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RNLI media contacts

 

  • Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]
  • Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252  [email protected]
  • James Oxley, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)

       0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 [email protected]

 

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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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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

Peter Barker