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Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat says goodbye to 'Sammy' the seal

Lifeboats News Release

Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat has bid farewell to a friendly visitor as the boat leaves North Wales to return home.

Sammy the Seal, who took a liking to Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat Inner Wheel II while she was in Holyhead for maintenance and repairs

RNLI

Sammy the Seal, who took a liking to Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat Inner Wheel II while she was in Holyhead for maintenance and repairs

The Inner Wheel II welcomed the unusual visitor last week as she was moored at Holyhead RNLI lifeboat station for general maintenance and repairs. Spotted by Holyhead RNLI volunteer crew member Beth Wilkinson, the native grey seal was dubbed 'Sammy' by the Anglesey crew.

Beth said: ‘Seals are regular visitors to Holyhead area and Sammy is waving farewell to the Inner Wheel II as it leaves Holyhead after a month.

‘The RNLI has a rigorous selection process for volunteers, but Sammy would be a welcome addition!’

The Trent class lifeboat was docked at the Holyhead Lifeboat Station in Anglesey and spent the last month undergoing general maintenance and repair.

A replacement lifeboat from the RNLI’s relief fleet Dora Foster McDougall is currently moored at Barry Docks RNLI station and has allowed the station to maintain a 24-hour and uninterrupted operational search and rescue service for the surrounding area.

The Inner Wheel II is expected to return to Barry Dock on Friday (20 January).

Notes to editors:

The attached picture shows Sammy the Seal, who took a liking to Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat Inner Wheel II while she was in Holyhead for maintenance and repairs.

For more information please contact Steven John Harry, Barry Dock RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07456 070389 or Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected]

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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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