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Single handed yachtsman rescued by Dungeness lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

On Tuesday 5 September at 11.02pm the UK Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to locate a lone yachtsman who had used his mobile phone to contact them saying his vessel had engine failure, he was lost and suffering from fatigue.

Once the RNLI lifeboat was launched, Coxswain Stuart Adams in command of the Shannon class lifeboat 13-02 ‘The Morrell’ and her volunteer crew quickly located the casualty, six miles south of Rye Harbour and put a crew member on board to assess the situation.

After making sure the lone sailor was well and in a more comfortable situation, the RNLI volunteer on board the casualty established a towing point to enable the lifeboat to safely tow the vessel to Dover Harbour.

The lifeboat departed Dover at 3.34am and returned to station, refuelled and was made ready for service.

Coxswain Adams said ‘the RNLI’s community safety teams always recommend any vessel going to sea should have a VHF radio on board’

RNLI media contacts

  • Judith Richardson – Dungeness RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
    Tel: 01797 320062/Mob: 07859264226
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/South East/East)
    0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / [email protected]
  • Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) 020 7620 7416/ 07786 66882 [email protected]

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

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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