Dover RNLI volunteers assist early morning search for woman in sea Folkestone
The volunteer lifeboat crew at Dover continued their recent busy streak this morning when they assisted in a search for a woman believed to be in distress in the sea off Folkestone.
In rough seas and challenging weather conditions brought by Storm Angus, the lifeboat crew members leapt from their beds at 5.50am at the sound of their pagers, after the UK Coastguard requested assistance.
The call came amid reports that a woman had been reported missing and was last seen at Folkestone Harbour.
Dover RNLI’s Severn class lifeboat, City of London II, was launched at approximately 6am and proceeded to Folkestone to help search for the woman.
Local UK Coastguard rescue teams and the search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd were also involved, while South East Coast Ambulance Service vehicles went to the scene.
The search was made more difficult by high seas and the coastline being battered by gale force winds and heavy rain overnight.
The woman was eventually spotted by the helicopter crew, but the lifeboat crew were unable to get close to her because of the many rocks in the sea and wave conditions in the area. She was airlifted by helicopter and taken to a local hospital.
Robert Bendhiaf, duty coxswain of Dover RNLI lifeboat, said: ‘The conditions were pretty bad, and obviously all parties were very concerned about the woman. Sadly, we have now learned that the woman did not survive and was pronounced dead at hospital.
‘This is a tragic outcome and we are all very sad that she did not survive. As with many of our launches, we do not yet know the reasons why this woman was in the sea, but needless to say it is an awful outcome and the crews thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young lady.’
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: ‘A 39-year-old Folkestone woman was recovered from the sea and was taken to a local hospital. She was later confirmed deceased and next of kin were informed.
‘Police are not currently treating this as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the Coroner.’
Today’s launch by the lifeboat crew follows a busy weekend when they were tasked to go to the aid of a tanker, Saga Sky, which had lost engine power and drifted into a barge carrying rocks. In that incident the lifeboat crew stood guard while a number of the tanker crew were airlifted by a search and rescue helicopter.
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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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