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Weekend rescues for Eastbourne Lifeboats

Lifeboats News Release

The crew of Eastbourne lifeboats were kept busy at the weekend not only attending the 999 Emergency services event on Western Lawns but also being called into service on a number of occasions.

ILB tows speedboat

RNLI/Jim Edwards

Speedboat being towed to safety by ILB
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The crew started the 999 weekend with a demonstration by the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) off the Wish Tower and the inshore lifeboat (ILB) on the lawns where the public were able to try get up close, try on the crew’s safety equipment and view videos of recent rescues. With glorious weather the event proved to be one of the best attended in recent years.

At 2.15pm on Saturday (8 July) the ALB was called into service when a charter fishing vessel with nine people on board suffered a mechanical failure 11 miles east of Eastbourne and was left drifting in the tide. As the ALB was approaching Sovereign Harbour with the stricken vessel under tow the crew saw a small yacht trying to enter the marina under sail being blown aground against the harbour arm. The vessel under tow was quickly secured in the marina locks and the ALB returned to the aground yacht. By this time another vessel had attempted to re-float the yacht but had unfortunately broken the steering. The ALB pulled the yacht clear of the seabed and it too was taken to the safety of the marina locks.

On Sunday morning just before the opening of the 999 event the ILB launched to assist a speedboat which had suffered engine failure and was being pushed ashore in the surf. To complete a busy period the ILB launched again on Monday evening when reports came in that four Kayakers were in difficulty off Eastbourne pier. When the ILB arrived on scene the kayakers had managed to get ashore and were safe and well.



Angling boat under tow

RNLI/Bob Jeffery

Charter angling boat under tow by ALB
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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

Bob Jeffery Volunteer Press Officer Eastbourne Lifeboats

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