Clovelly RNLI volunteer crew involved in multi agency distress signal response

The volunteer crew quickly assembled and launched in the B class inshore lifeboat Toby Rundle within 5 minutes of being alerted. The signal was initially registered to a 15m schooner and its position was given by the coastguard to the crew.

Upon arrival nothing was visible and the signal had disappeared from the inshore lifeboat's direction finding equipment. An extensive search took place between Clovelly and Hartland Point, which also involved the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187 and the Hartland Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team. After two hours of searching, all search and rescue assets were stood down.

Helm Rob Weare said: 'It was a difficult search as the distress signal was extremely intermittent and we were getting echoes due to the conditions. The EPIRB was first registered in 1999 and it was quite possible that it could have been malfunctioning at sea or indeed on land. However we carried out a thorough search regardless of this.'

After the inshore lifeboat was stood down, the volunteer crew returned to helping out with their annual Lifeboat Day celebrations. The crew involved on this call out were Sam Gist, Jamie Dawkin, Casie Harper and Helm Rob Weare.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Rob Weare, Clovelly RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at Robert_Weare@rnli.org.uk.

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