The Humber lifeboat crew had a busy bank holiday Monday on the water.

The crew were requested by Humber UKCG at approximately 1.45pm to reports from a fishing vessel suffering engine failure. The crew of the fishing vessel had deployed their anchor and waited for the lifeboat to arrive. The lifeboat was alongside the fishing vessel and established a tow at 2.15pm and began the 14 mile tow to Grimsby.

5 miles into the tow, the lifeboat received reports from Humber UKCG that a member of the public had spotted an inflatable kayak with two people on board drifting out to sea approximately one and a half miles East of Kilnsea. The Humber lifeboat crew asked the fishing vessel to re-deploy their anchor and release the tow. The lifeboat made best speed to cover the 3 miles to the kayak's reported location.

The RNLI crew quickly located the kayak and found the two occupants safe and well, they told the lifeboat crew that they hadn’t realised that they were so far out and decided they were happy to paddle back into shore. The Humber crew shadowed the kayakers in towards the beach. Once the kayakers had reached the shore the lifeboat returned to the fishing vessel, and the crew re-established the tow and set a course for Grimsby. Arriving shortly after 7pm, the fishing vessel was safely moored on its berth. The lifeboat refueled and returned to the station at 7.45pm.

Col Fisk, RNLI Navigator for Humber Lifeboat, says: ‘August is a notoriously busy month for the RNLI and during the bank holiday there are more people on the water. The member of the public that called the coastguard and reported the kayakers did absolutely the right thing - we would sooner launch the lifeboat and check if someone is ok rather than not be called at all. If you see someone in trouble in the water dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.’

Notes to editors

Humber Lifeboat Station is the only full time all-weather lifeboat crew in the RNLI and has been saving lives at sea since 1810.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Lifeboat Press Officers Mark Stanbra or Liam Dunnett on 01964 650228 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Press officer (North), on 07824 518641 or at [email protected]

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.

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.

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.