Early morning call out for Bembridge Lifeboat on Christmas Eve
Bembridge RNLI's all-weather Tamar lifeboat 'Alfred Albert Williams' was launched at the request of UK Coastguard at 4:50am this morning (Sunday 24 December) to search for a missing person who had been spotted entering the sea by Sandown Pier and disappearing.
The Alfred Albert Williams assisted the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 163 (and subsequently Rescue 175) and local Coastguard teams in the operation to try and find the missing person.
After an extensive search in quite lumpy conditions (West South Westerly winds and Force 4) but with no sign of the casualty, the Alfred Albert Williams was stood down at 8.20am. She returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 8.45am.
John Keyworth, Lifeboat Operations Manager said: 'It was a strange start to the Christmas break but this sort of situation is what we are here for'.
RNLI media contacts
· Mike Samuelson, Bembridge RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07785 593254 or [email protected]
· Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 [email protected]
· 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.
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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.