Busiest weekend on record for Whitby RNLI
Whitby lifeboat crew were involved in six rescues including a woman injured aboard a stricken yacht.
The following day the volunteer crew were paged at 12.25 pm after a yacht ran aground near the Upgang Ravine. A woman on board suffered a head injury and was taken in the inshore lifeboat to the harbour to a waiting ambulance. Whitby coastguard assisted with the transfer of the casualty onto the lifeboat.
Not long after, the charity's inshore lifeboat was launched for second time in a day when it was reported that a casualty was in distress near the water at Sandsend. The crew waited on standby at the scene while police and coastguard dealt with the incident. The inshore lifeboat was stood down and returned to harbour at 10 pm.
On Sunday 28 May, the all-weather lifeboat was launched when a power boat got into difficulties. During the rescue the tide became too low for the lifeboat to enter the harbour so the smaller inshore lifeboat was launched to take over the tow.
Both lifeboats were then reassigned to search for a reported missing person. After a three hour search was conducted between the piers in Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay the crew were stood down.
On Monday morning (29 May) the volunteers launched the inshore lifeboat to assist with fire crews as they worked to save a small fishing vessel from sinking in the harbour. The boat was almost submerged before the teams managed to use ropes to bring it to the surface. The lifeboat crew then pumped out water and towed the vessel to a nearby slipway. No one was aboard the fishing boat.
Station mechanic Richard Dowson said 'We think this could be the busiest weekend on record for Whitby RNLI. The sunny weather brings more people out onto the water so you do expect more call outs. It's been a busy one for the crew but that's what we're here for, to save lives at sea and keep people safe on the water.
We'd like to thank the local police, fire and coastguard for their help and co-operation with some of the incidents'
For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or email [email protected]
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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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.