Third shout in two days for Lymington RNLI Volunteers

Lymington RNLI volunteers were called at 4.47pm on Monday 23 April to go the aid of a 5.1m ketch rigged open cruising dinghy that was aground on the edge of the Keyhaven marshes.

The craft with two persons onboard had been making its way back upstream to its launch site at Keyhaven when it suffered multiple equipment failure resulting in it being blown helplessly onto the sedge.

Arriving on the scene the Lymington lifeboat crew aboard Atlantic 85 lifeboat David Bradley found the vessel had already been towed off the marsh by a local boat. Taking over the tow the stricken craft was then delivered safely to Keyhaven Quay under the watchful eye of a large seal basking on the marsh edge.

The two persons onboard were uninjured and were able to recover the craft to its trailer without further assistance.

Lymington lifeboat returned to station, remaining afloat in preparation for routine training in the evening.

Notice to Editors:

· For over 50 years, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat has provided search, rescue and lifesaving capability in the western Solent, Needles Channel and eastern sector of Christchurch Bay.

· Entries are now open through our website: www.lymingtonlifeboat.co.uk for our annual 10k and children’s fun run fundraiser being held this year on Sunday 15 May.

· The RNLI Lifeboat Station open days will be on: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August 2018 coinciding with the food festival being held on the adjacent Bath Road Park.

RNLI Media Contacts:

• Peter Mills, Lymington RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07767 213583 [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email: [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email: [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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, 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.