Two calls just minutes apart for Southend’s volunteer lifeboat crews
Southend on Sea’s RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew had only just launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat from the pierhead boathouse to a broken-down angling boat at 3.25pm on Friday (22 September), when a second call came from the UK Coastguard about a capsized catamaran.
With weather conditions calm and sunny and the angling boat, which was five miles south east of the pier and its occupants in no immediate danger, the lifeboat crew diverted to the more serious incident and made best speed up river to the 18ft catamaran and two persons in the water, off of Marsh End Sand, Leigh.
On arrival the lifeboat crew helped right the vessel, ensuring the two male sailors were ok and happy to continue sailing back to Island Yacht Club, Canvey.
The lifeboat crew then headed south easterly to the 18ft angling boat with two persons aboard, which was suffering from engine problems.
With the vessel located a short while later and the two anglers safe and well, a tow line was set up.
The vessel was then towed back to its mooring off of Thorpe Bay where the anglers were happy to stay aboard and make their own way to shore.
Southend lifeboat returned to station for a wash down and refuel ready for service.
Southend lifeboat crews are featured in this Tuesday’s (26 September) episode of 'Saving Lives At Sea' on BBC2 at 8pm.
RNLI media contacts:
- Denis Freeman - Southend Lifeboat Station Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer. Tel - 07710406661, [email protected]
- Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/South East/East)
Tel - 0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / [email protected] - Paul Dunt, Press Officer(London/ South East) Tel- 0207 6207416 / 07786668825 [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
RNLI online:
For more information on the RNLI, please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre. For more information and photos on Southend on sea lifeboat station go to www.southendlifeboat.org
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.