Withernsea RNLI lifeboat crew involved in night search for missing person
Withernsea RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assisted a multi-agency search this morning (Sunday 26 November) in rough conditions. The missing person was feared to have entered the water in freezing temperatures.
Withernsea RNLI inshore lifeboat Henley Eight was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 12:23am and began to search the coastline and breaking surf line whilst auxiliary coastguards from Withernsea searched the promenade and beach. The UK Coastguard helicopter from Humberside also joined the search.
In difficult conditions, the Withernsea RNLI volunteers fired five illumination flares to assist with the search, before being down at 2:30am. The search was called off shortly after with nothing found.
The missing person has since been found safe and well ashore by police.
Withernsea RNLI Helmsman Matthew Woodhouse said: ‘We're really pleased to hear that the person has been found safe and well. Conditions through the night were not good. We were growing more concerned for the missing person with every minute that passed. It was cold, dark and there was a big dumping swell to contend with.
‘The crew onboard the lifeboat did a fantastic job in unfavourable circumstances, as did the other emergency services involved. Despite the call coming just after midnight, we were preparing to launch within minutes of the pagers waking us up.’
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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