Hunstanton RNLI volunteers aid crew of fishing vessel after damage to hull

At 10.15am Humber Coastguard requested Hunstanton RNLI lifeboat to go to the aid of a fishing vessel with two people on board, that had struck an object and was taking on water, just off the Tabs Head.

As the RNLI volunteer crew were on exercise in the Wash they were diverted to the area and arrived on scene at 10.45am. An RNLI crew member was put on board to assess the situation and found a split in the hull about a foot long, which was consistent with the vessel striking an object. 

The vessel was now high and dry on the training wall, and both of her crew - a husband and wife from Skegness - were taken on board the lifeboat and landed at Fosdyke.

Due to the state of the tide Hunstanton RNLI lifeboat was unable to leave the river, so a relief crew and a pump were taken round by road, and the two people who were taken off the fishing vessel were brought back to the lifeboat station.

At 5pm, as the tide started to flood, the lifeboat made its way to the casualty vessel, and at 5.20pm arrived alongside and put the portable pump on board. The husband and wife managed to start the vessel’s engine, and with the pump running, two RNLI volunteers brought the vessel into Fosdyke, where it was lifted out of the water. The lifeboat crew were then released to return to station.

The two people were uninjured but a bit shaken up, and were most grateful to the RNLI crew. The lifeboat returned to station at 7.45pmafter what was a very long day.

RNLI media contacts

• Geoff Needham LPO. Hunstanton RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 01485 525409, 07932 026265
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252  [email protected] 
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

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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