Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat launched to assist a small hovercraft
The Sheerness inshore lifeboat was called to assist a small hovercraft that had lost power in The Swale.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 3.10pm on Tuesday 28 November after a call for assistance from the UK Coastguard reporting that a small hovercraft with one man on board was in trouble between Ridham Dock and the Kingsferry Bridge in the Swale.
The ILB located the casualty at 3.23pm aground on a mud bank and unable to move after suffering power failure to its lift motor.
The lifeboat crew decided to wait for the flood tide to refloat the hovercraft, with this being achieved at 4.03pm.
The craft was then towed to the launching ramp at Kingsferry where the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team were in attendance.
With the occupant of the hovercraft needing no medical assistance the ILB was released and back on station at 4.36pm.
Weather conditions at the time were fair with wind NW force 3 to 4.
This was the 70th call so far, this year for ‘Buster’ and the ILB volunteers.
Ends
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Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 vic.booth111@btinternet.com / vic_booth@rnli.org.uk
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk 07785296252
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
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