No weekend break for the Sheerness RNLI lifeboat crews
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI lifeboats were called out three times by the UK Coastguard on Saturday 25 August.
The first call at 7.15 am reported that a 33-foot yacht with two ladies and a man on board was in trouble due to machinery failure South of No.2 Medway Approach buoy.
The all-weather lifeboat ‘The George and Ivy Swanson’ was launched at 7.22 am and located the casualty at 7.52am.
A tow line was attached and the craft with its occupants was towed to the all tide landing in Queenborough Harbour where it was secured at 9.05am.
The lifeboat was back on station at 9.18am. Wind NW 4-5
The second call came at 4.52 requesting that the inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ be launched to a fishing boat with four men onboard that had broken down between Rochester and Strood and that assistance was required.
Making best speed having launched at 4.59pm the lifeboat located the casualty at 5.32pm and quickly attached a tow line to the craft which was then taken to Cuxton Marina where it was made secure. The lifeboat was released at 6.45pm and arrived back on station at 7.15pm.
The Inshore lifeboat crew were called out again later that day after two separate calls to the UK Coastguard reported that a red emergency flare had been sighted in the Rochester area on the River Medway.
The ILB launched at 10.25pm making best speed to the area given and the crew began a search of the east shore from Gas House Point up to Wickham Reach close to the M2 Medway Bridge. With nothing found the crew then searched the east shoreline and again finding nothing untoward they then searched a line down the centre of the river and again nothing was found.
Whilst the lifeboat crew searched along the river the Medway and Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Teams were making a search along the shoreline. They also found no signs of any problems.
The search was completed at 11.38pm and the lifeboat was back on station at 0.16am. Wind SW 2
Ends
RNLI media contacts
Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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.