Clacton RNLI volunteer’s have a busy week, which included a visit by RNLI’s CEO
Clacton’s RNLI volunteers were kept busy with a visit by Paul Bossier, CEO of the RNLI and three launch requests.
On Wednesday 01 August the Clacton RNLI station welcomed RNLI CEO Paul Bossier, who is visiting stations along this part of the East Anglian coastline, seeing their individual needs and strengths, affording him a better understanding of the challenges faced by our volunteer crew.
David Wells, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Clacton RNLI said; ‘We were able to have frank and open discussions about issues raised, which I feel has helped close the distance between the coast and HQ.’
Later that evening at 11.45pm the volunteers launched their D Class lifeboat Damarkand IV at the request of UK Coastguard to a person in the water east of Clacton Pier. Arriving on scene the crew spotted two Essex Police officers holding the casualty above the water.
The female casualty was taken aboard the lifeboat while the two police officers made their own way ashore. The lifeboat returned to station where paramedics arrived and later transferred the casualty to hospital for further observations.
On Friday 3 August the D Class lifeboat followed by the Atlantic Class lifeboat were launched in an early morning search for a missing person. Both lifeboats were later stood down when the missing person was located by Essex Police officers inland.
The final service of the week came on Sunday 5 August lunchtime, when again at the request of UK Coastguard the volunteers launched Damarkand IV, the station’s D Class lifeboat. The crew were tasked to two people in difficulty east of Clacton Pier. On arrival it was discovered they were in the care of the Beach Patrol team. Two crew members were put ashore (one being an A&E nurse) to see if assistance was needed. At the same time the On-Call Doctors arrived who stayed with casualties until paramedics arrived, allowing the crew to return to the lifeboat.
On returning to the lifeboat UK Coastguard asked them to check around the pier for anyone else that may need assistance. The lifeboat was then requested to investigate an upturned inflatable with the two occupants in the water. On arrival all was well, but some safety advice was offered.
Helmsman Joff Strutt later commented; 'The majority of inflatables are designed for pools and not open water. If using one in the sea take extra care, use a patrolled or lifeguarded beach, be aware of the tides and wind direction as both can easily take you out to sea. If you do find that you've drifted from the shore, don’t try and swim back but stay with the inflatable and signal and wait for help. It will help keep you afloat and make you easier to spot.'
On average 22 people are helped each day by lifeboat crews from one of 238 RNLI lifeboat stations covering 19,000 miles of coastline.
RNLI media contacts
- Richard Wigley, Lifeboat Press Officer, Clacton RNLI: 07903 424698
- Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Media Officer, North East and East: 07824 518641
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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