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 RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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