Family of four with dog rescued by Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew as yacht sinks
A family of four and their Labrador dog were rescued last night (Tuesday 25 July) by the volunteer Lyme Regis lifeboat crew, after their yacht was swamped by waves and sank at Charlton Bay, west of Lyme.
Mr Coles said: 'We had been having a picnic and were close to the shore. Suki would not get on the boat. We got out of the boat to get the dog and two big waves hit the yacht and pretty much sank it.'
'We we all safely ashore but wet and cold, and very pleased when we saw the lifeboat. The whole thing was Suki's fault really.'
The family had left Lyme in the 5.5m vessel, called Llewellyn, just as the Red Devils were giving their display as part of the Lyme Regis RNLI Lifeboat Week.
The lifeboat crew brought the family back safely to Lyme Regis. Later it was decided that it was too unsafe to tow the stricken yacht back. The lifeboat crew secured the yacht by anchor a quarter of a mile off Pinhay Bay. This was the 13th shout for the Lyme Regis volunteer crew so far this year.
The lifeboat had launched from the slipway at 6.50pm just as their Lifeboat Week charity auction was under way in the boathouse. Later the water polo match between the lifeboat crew and the lifeguards was affected by a shortage of players. A depleted lifeboat crew team lost by a large margin, according to the players.
RNLI notes to editors
The enclosed photograph shows the family who were rescued by the crew (L-R Theo, Tania, Joe, Hector and dog Suki). Please credit RNLI/Lyme Regis.
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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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