RNLI Hoylake Hovercraft rescues a man cut off by tide at Dove Point, Meols
On the evening 2 July Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team observed an individual stranded on a sand bank and requested assistance from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Volunteer crew members mustered at RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station following reports of one person in danger of being cut off by the incoming tide opposite Dove Point slipway in Meols. The hovercraft arrived on the scene and took the casualty on board, before returning him to the slipway where the Coastguard Rescue Team were waiting to ensure he was safe and well.
Hovercraft Commander, Matt Pownall-Jones, said: ‘We always advise people to check daily tide times before they set out for a walk to avoid being caught out.'
The tide rises rapidly along the Wirral coastline and so it is important that walkers consider their safety; remain vigilant and leave plenty of time. If members of the public do see someone in difficulty they should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
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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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