Sheerness RNLI lifeboat called to reports of a person in the water at Rochester

The Sheerness inshore lifeboat Buster was launched at 10.54 am on Sunday 22 January after reports from the UK Coastguard that a person had jumped from the M2 Bridge at Rochester.

The inshore lifeboat was on the scene at 11.31am and along with a multi agency team comprising of the Coastguard helicopter from Llydd,Medway Coastguard Rescue and a Kent Police unit an extensive search of the area was carried out.

The ILB was released at 1.26pm to return to station to refuel and carry out a crew change.

The ILB was back on station at 1.58pm and a decision was made by the UK Coastguard not to relaunch the lifeboat which was then re-housed after cleaning at 2.30pm.

Ends

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

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

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

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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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