Ramsgate RNLI boats support Broadstairs Water Gala
On Wednesday 1 August the Ramsgate all-weather lifeboat 'Esme Anderson' and the inshore lifeboat 'Clare and David Delves' both attended the neighbouring town, Broadstairs’ Water Gala day.
The RNLI were out in force, with the lifeguards showing off their skills, the face to face team engaging with the crowds, the coastguards spreading the message to call 999 when in trouble, the RNLI shops selling their wares and the lifeboat crew giving excited children and parents the chance to step onboard the Esme Anderson for a tour.
The glorious weather meant that the beach was packed, and the queue to board the lifeboat never seemed to reduce, in fact over six hundred people took the opportunity to tour the boat and chat with the volunteer helpers about their personal experiences of the RNLI near and far.
One story that stood out was a young mother with her two children, who told how six years ago whilst on holiday in Cornwall she had been caught in a rip current and swept out to sea. She had been rescued by the life guards on duty that day but it had knocked her confidence and she would no longer go into the sea.
However she was determined that her two young children would not share her fear of the sea, and had summoned up the courage to take them onboard the all-weather boat so that they would know and respect the work of the RNLI. Her two young boys aged three and five were so excited!
It was lovely to hear how much the local community appreciate the work that the volunteer crew do and everyone appreciated the interaction with the crew. When one of the crew took to the sea to demonstrate the RNLI's Respect the Water safety message, 'Float to Live', it was a very visual way of getting the message across.
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RNLI Media Contacts
Ramsgate Lifeboat Press Officer Karen Cox email [email protected] tel 07779 848431.
Paul Dunt RNLI. Regional Media Officer London and South East, email [email protected] tel 0778520296252.
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
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