Aldeburgh RNLI lifeboat called to evacuate crew member from research vessel

The UK Coastguard requested the lifeboat launch at 4.47pm after the crew of the Belgian vessel contacted them to say one of the crew had learned of a death in the family.

Once on scene, the volunteer crew of the Freddie Cooper assisted the casualty to transfer to the lifeboat. The casualty then returned to Aldeburgh on the lifeboat.

James Cable, Mechanic at Aldeburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: 'At the RNLI we get called to all manner of incidents and emergencies - sometimes people are at immediate risk of physical injury, other times they need assistance for another reason, for example, on compassionate grounds. This was the latter.

'On learning of a death in his family, the man needed to return to Belgium urgently. Because it would have been very complicated for the research vessel to return him, we were ask to laucnh to get him to shore.'

James said once the lifeboat returned him to dry land, a volunteer crew member kindly drove him to Ipswich where he took a train to Kent, with the intention of travelling back home via the Eurotunnel.

'We were more than happy to help in this situation. As a charity we naturally extend that charitable approach to others. We hope the man in question got home and is supporting his family.'

At the time of the launch, the sea state was slight with the wind southerly at 14 knots. Aldeburgh lifeboat returned to station at 5.25pm.

RNLI media contacts

• Caron Hill, Aldeburgh RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 07837 263210, email [email protected]
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East), 0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East), 0207 6207416 / 07786668825/ [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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