Lifeboat crew stand by in a late-night incident

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat launched at 10.56pm on Monday 4 December to a call from the UK Coastguard reporting that a distressed and vulnerable female was in the water on a mud bank close to the wall of Gillingham Marina at The Strand.

With the tide rising quickly the ILB crew made best speed to the scene where they arrived at 11.14pm and were requested to stand off whilst a Kent Police crew attempted to calm the person and persuade her to come ashore.

Teams from the Kent Fire and Rescue service and the Medway Coastguard unit were also on shore at the scene.

With the lady safely back on the shore the ILB crew were released at 11.31pm and were back on station at 11.55pm.

Weather conditions were good with wind Westerly force 3.

Ends

Media contacts:

Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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.