Long and busy night for Plymouth RNLI lifeboat crew
The volunteer crew of Plymouth RNLI lifeboat had a busy night responding to casualties caught out by the spring tides on 22 August.
Spring tides, which cause very high and very low tides, meant the all-weather lifeboat (ALB), the Atlantic and the Arancia were all launched few hours apart.
The first launch was the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and the inshore lifeboat (ILB) at 7.11pm to a report of seven people cut off by the tide at Whitsand Bay. Once on scene and after assessing the situation the tide was now on the turn and receding. There was quite a big swell at the shore and getting the casualties onto the lifeboat wasn’t going to be easy so the crew and cliff rescue team stood by until they were able to assist the people from the cove to safety. Plymouth's ALB Sybil Mullen Glover and the ILB, along with volunteer crew then returned to the lifeboat station.
The second launch came at 11.16pm when the ILB and the Arancia class lifeboats were tasked to a motor boat which had run aground at Cargreen on the River Tamar with six people on board. As the tide was still going out and it was late the volunteer crew escorted five of the casualties to the shore to safety. One of the casualties remained with the vessel with the volunteer crew until the tide came back in .Once the vessel was afloat again the now tired crew returned to the lifeboat station at 5.30am ready to start their usual day jobs.
Both shouts were attended efficiently and with compassion. The RNLI station, lifeboats and crew are on call 24/7, 365 days a year and proud to be a part of it.
Coxswain David Milford said: ‘The tides vary so much. At the moment the tides are exceptionally high or exceptionally low and it’s important members of the public are aware of the tides when they visit a beach or tidal river.’
Notes to editors
- Plymouth RNLI lifeboat has been operating since 1862. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/plymouth
- Enclosed picture Severn class lifeboat on scene with the casualty. Credit Les Butler RNLI mechanic.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Karen Butler, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07876546612 or [email protected]
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.