Blackpool RNLI volunteers take part in multi-agency rescue operation

Blackpool RNLI volunteers were called out at 7.30pm on Sunday evening (25th September 2016) to assist three people in the water at North Pier. Both of the station’s D class lifeboats launched in difficult conditions and made their way to the scene. On arrival they found that a life ring had been thrown to the casualties and they had climbed onto the sea wall near the pier.

Due to the position of the casualties, the sea state and weather conditions a multi-agency response was triggered and teams from RNLI Fleetwood, RNLI Lytham, Lytham Coastguard, Fleetwood Coastguard, police, fire service, ambulance service and the coastguard rescue helicopter all attended the incident.

The casualties were helped to safety by Fleetwood and Lytham Coastguard Rescue Teams while RNLI volunteers and other agencies provided safety cover. All three casualties were handed into the care of waiting paramedics.

Blackpool RNLI volunteer helmsman David Warburton said, ‘tonight’s casualties were extremely lucky. The outcome could have been very serious indeed had it not been for the quick thinking of staff on North Pier who threw them a life ring and phoned the Coastguard.

On average 190 people die in British and Irish waters each year and around half of them never intended to enter the water. Respect The Water is the RNLI’s drowning prevention campaign, to find out more visit RNLI.org.uk/respectthewater.’

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 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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

 

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland