Busy few days for Wells lifeboats

On Thursday the 6th July the crew were paged at 6:50 pm to take over the tow from Cromer lifeboat of the 28’ Broads motor cruiser Double Trouble with 6 persons on board. The Cromer lifeboat had been called when the cruiser developed serious engine problems off Cromer whilst on passage from Great Yarmouth to Denver Sluice. The Wells Inshore Lifeboat was launched and took over the tow at Wells harbour entrance at around 7:30 pm and towed the cruiser to a berth in the Outer Harbour.

At 4:40pm on Friday, 7th July, just before the scheduled practice launch, Wells Inshore Lifeboat was paged by UK Coastguards to go to a man believed to be cut off by the tide on the West side of the Outer Harbour Channel. The Lifeboat arrived on scene and found that he was in fact a known local Kayaker who was fishing in the approaches to the harbour and all was well. This was something he often did when the conditions were favourable in the summer. The initial call to the coastguards was well intentioned as it was possible that the Kayak may have blended in with the surroundings when viewed from ashore.

The lifeboats had just completed their training exercise when UK Coastguard asked the Inshore Lifeboat to give assistance to the local 23' day cruiser Fish Tails, with 1 person on board, which had engine failure. The vessel was approximately a mile to seaward of the East Hills. Local angling vessel Whitby Crest, which was fishing in the area, was also asked by UK Coastguard to stand off whilst the Inshore Lifeboat attached the tow. The vessel was taken back to Wells harbour and was put back on her mooring at 8:30 pm.

The following day, Saturday 8th July, the Inshore Lifeboat was paged at 3.40 pm to go to two people and a child cut off on the foreshore on the west side of the Harbour Channel. The child managed to reach safety but the parents both had to be rescued - just in time, as the incoming tide had significantly covered the spit of sand they had been standing on. The two adults, once reunited with their child, were all ferried to the safety of the beach close to the Boathouse and the Inshore Lifeboat then returned to Station at 4:20 pm.

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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