
Wedding reception cut short for RNLI Islay volunteer crew
The crew of the Islay lifeboat, attending the wedding of their Chief Mechanic, David McArthur, had to leave the reception early to answer a call from the Coastguards and Police.
They had to help ascertain the whereabouts of a missing person believed to be walking in an isolated area of the coast who had failed to report in.
Islay RNLI all-weather lifeboat Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit launched at 10.33pm on Saturday 29 April, with five Coastguards and a Police Officer on board, in a brisk wind but good visibility and searched the Islay shore from Dunlossit to Baldys Bay at the south end of the Sound of Islay.
At Baldys Bay lights were seen in the bothy there so the Y boat was launched with two crew members, a Coastguard and the Police Officer who, on going ashore, found the person safe and well.
The lifeboat returned to the station at 15 minutes past midnight with the crew very pleased at the successful outcome.
RNLI media contacts: Heather Dewar, RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer at Islay, on 01496 840600 (H) and Islay lifeboat station on 01496 840608, email [email protected]
Or Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]
Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Or contact RNLI Public Relations 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.
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