Eight-year-old boy’s life saved by Silloth RNLI

The boy, who was wearing just swimming shorts, had been on Allonby beach enjoying the hot weather and using a small inflatable dinghy in the sea, when he was swept away by the strong tidal current.

The alarm was raised by the boy’s mother who was also on the beach at the time with other family members.

After an extensive search of Allonby Bay by Silloth lifeboat crew and the assistance of a mobile Coastguard team from Maryport, the boy was found at 8.10pm half a mile off Allonby, opposite the church. He was very cold, shivering and suffering from the early effects of hypothermia. He had attempted to swim to shore twice pulling the dinghy with him which made him more susceptible to hypothermia.

Silloth lifeboat crew requested the launching of both the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and the inshore lifeboat (ILB) from RNLI Workington and also Maryport Inshore Rescue Boat to assist them with the search. A Coastguard helicopter was also tasked to the incident. All were “stood down” when the boy was found.

The lifeboat brought the boy back to Silloth and delivered him into the hands of paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service who attended to him.

After receiving some medical attention from the paramedics the boy was allowed to go home.

Mark Ware, volunteer helm of Silloth RNLI lifeboat, said the young boy was very lucky to be alive and pointed out the dangers of using inflatables on the sea, adding: ‘I would also like to thank the other lifeboat crews and Coastguard teams who assisted with the incident.’

RNLI media contact

For more information contact Eddie Studholme, Silloth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, on 07802940671

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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