Person rescued from the sea by Margate RNLI

UK Coastguard received a report of two people in the sea at Westbrook Bay yesterday evening. There was concern for the welfare of the two and the inshore lifeboat was tasked to assist, Kent Police, Margate Coastguard Rescue Team and SECAMB were also alerted and attended.

It was established that one of the two persons had got ashore unaided and was in the care of the emergency services and when the lifeboat arrived on the scene the second person was quickly located in the sea well beyond the depth where he could have stood. The lifeboat crew became concerned for the person’s welfare and it was some considerable time before he was able to be recovered into the safety of the lifeboat.

The lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station where the casualty was handed into the care of the other emergency services which were now also in attendance.

Nick Smith, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate Lifeboat said: “This was a delicate situation for the volunteer crew to deal with and uppermost in everyone’s mind was the safety and welfare of the person in the water. We hope he recovers quickly from his ordeal and would like to thank the person who alerted the coastguard to the situation initially, remember if you see anyone in difficulties at sea or on the shoreline dial 999 and ask for coastguard.”

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

• Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]

• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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