Eastbourne Lifeboat crew assist yachtsmen
HM Coastguard requested the assistance of the volunteer crew of Eastbourne lifeboats on Saturday morning when a yacht struck an underwater obstruction near the harbour entrance
Shortly after leaving Sovereign Harbour with four persons on board the yacht, bound for Boulogne, struck the submerged wreck of the SS Barnhill near the marina entrance. The sudden impact knocked the crew off their feet causing various injuries. The yacht’s skipper called for assistance from HM Coastguard who immediately requested the launch of Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat. Whilst the volunteer lifeboat crew were preparing to launch, the yacht’s skipper managed to manoeuvre his vessel back into the marina locks. The lifeboat launch was cancelled and the assembled crew went to the assistance of the injured people on the damaged yacht.
Following assessment of the casualties the yacht was taken to the marina hoist bay for lifting where the most serious casualty was removed from the yacht by the lifeboat crew and passed into the care of a waiting ambulance team.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
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