Staithes RNLI party interrupted by 999 call

The lifeboat was at sea showing the crowds a simulated rescue along with lifeboats from Whitby and Redcar and HM Coasguard’s Rescue helicopter when the news came through of a boat in difficulty down the coast near Runswick Bay.

The Staithes lifeboat Sheila & Dennis Tongue III abandoned the scene and sped off to find a small rigid inflatable boat with two anglers aboard anchored in choppy seas off Kettleness Point after engine failure.

The crew towed them back to Runswick Bay and the anglers were landed unharmed on the beach.

It was the third call-out within a week for the busy Staithes volunteer crews. Colin Harrison, Lifeboat Weekend co-ordinator with Staithes and Runswick RNLI commented: 'It was a very dramatic moment and underlined to the thousand or so people watching from the harbour what Lifeboat Weekend is fundamentally about - saving lives at sea by a charity that is funded by the public. I’m delighted that the anglers were brought back safe and sound and the same for our volunteer crew who were able to return and continue entertaining the crowds.'

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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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