Lymington's volunteer crew launch to motorboat aground in deteriorating weather
A call to assist a motorboat aground on Hurst Spit in worsening weather conditions maked the 50th shout of the year for RNLI volunteers at Lymington RNLI.
The crew of the Lymington RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat B-882 David Bradley were called shortly after 4:45pm on Saturday (30 September) to go to the aid of an 8m motor vessel that had lost power off the western side of Hurst Spit and was drifting into the surf line of the steep beach.
The single engined open vessel had been on passage in deteriorating weather when it suffered mechanical breakdown close inshore to the surf line. Unable to control its drift the four persons onboard used their mobile phone to alert the coastguard and once the vessel had grounded where able to scramble ashore.
The Lymington lifeboat arrived on scene to find a United Kingdom Border Force vessel standing by and the casualty vessel broadside on and taking a pounding from the waves.
Having confirmed that the crew were now ashore and out of danger the Lymington crew provided safety cover whilst vital possessions where recovered and the UK Coastguard made the vessel safe.
Once the vessel had been dragged clear of the surf by the Coastguard vehicle, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat returned to station to be refuelled and readied for further service by 6.30pm.
- Peter Mills, Lymington RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07767 213583 [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 email [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email[email protected]
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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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