RNLI Hoylake Hovercraft assists two persons stranded in the dark off Wirral
Shortly after midnight on 21 August, the RNLI Hoylake Hovercraft was tasked by the UK Coastguard to two casualties who were stranded in a small inflatable dinghy in the Dee Estuary.
Hoylake’s Hovercraft H-005 Hurley Spirit was launched at 00:13am and arrived on scene, approximately 150m offshore from Sally’s Cottage, shortly afterwards. The two people had been making their way to Heswall small boat moorings earlier in the day when the dinghy’s propeller became entangled in a rope. As the tide lowered, the casualties found themselves stranded in shallow water in the dark surrounded by muddy embankments.
The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team were on scene on the shore and were able to use their vehicle lights as markers to guide the hovercraft crew to the stranded dinghy. The volunteer crew recovered the two casualties and their dinghy on to the hovercraft safely. They were then landed close to Sally’s Cottage, where the Coastguard were waiting to meet them. Neither casualty required medical attention and the dinghy was landed nearby at Dee Sailing Club.
Hovercraft Commander, James Whiteley, said: ‘The channels in this part of the Dee can be very difficult to navigate, especially at night. This was a great example of teamwork between the RNLI and the UK Coastguard, who were able to direct us straight to the casualties and together we ensured a happy and safe outcome.’
RNLI Hoylake lifeboat station operates one of only four RNLI inshore rescue hovercrafts working to save lives across the UK in areas which are inaccessible to conventional lifeboats.
Volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are on standby 24 hours a day ready to fulfil their duty in search and rescue operations.RNLI media contacts
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