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Wells RNLI lifeboats' 4 rescues over 3 days as holiday season ‘hots up'

Lifeboats News Release

On Thursday 6 July, the Wells RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 6:50pm to take over the tow of a 28ft. Broads motor cruiser, 'Double Trouble', from Cromer RNLI lifeboat.

Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat, 'Peter Wilcox'

Martin Fish

Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat, 'Peter Wilcox'
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Cromer lifeboat had been called when the cruiser, with six people on board, developed serious engine problems off Cromer whilst on passage from Great Yarmouth to Denver Sluice (see here http://bit.ly/2sGHRKP )

The Wells D-class inshore lifeboat, Peter Wilcox, was launched and took over the tow at Wells harbour entrance at around 7.30pm and towed the cruiser to a berth in the Outer Harbour.

At 4.40pm on Friday 7 July, just before the scheduled lifeboat exercise launch, Wells inshore lifeboat was paged by the UK Coastguard 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 UK Coastguard was well intentioned as it was possible that the kayak may have blended in with the surroundings when viewed from ashore.

The lifeboat had just completed its training exercise when the UK Coastguard asked the lifeboat to give assistance to the local 23ft day cruiser, 'Fish Tails', which had engine failure.

The vessel, with one person on board, was approximately one mile seaward of the East Hills. A local angling vessel, 'Whitby Crest', which was fishing in the area, was also asked by the UK Coastguard to stand off whilst the lifeboat attached the tow. The casualty was taken back to Wells Harbour and was put back on her mooring at 8.30pm.

The following day, Saturday 8 July, the inshore lifeboat was paged at 3.40pm 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 were reunited with their child and all were all ferried to the safety of the beach close to the boathouse and the lifeboat then returned to station at 4.20pm.

RNLI media contacts
  • John Mitchell, Wells Lifeboat Press Officer. Tel: 01328 710882, Mob: 07831 103 166, Email: [email protected]
  • Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

About the author

John Mitchell
Lifeboat Press Officer, Wells Lifeboat Station

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