First shout of 2018 for Littlehampton RNLI
The UK Coastguard received an emergency VHF radio call from the skipper of a leisure boat reporting engine failure half a mile off Felpham shoreline.
The vessel was sailing from Port Solent to Littlehampton Marina when a warning light came on indicating that there was water in the fuel tank, resulting in engine failure. The skipper dropped anchor to prevent further drifting in worsening sea conditions.
Littlehampton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched at 4.11pm on Friday 23 February and headed out towards the stranded vessel, that had one adult male on board.
Arriving alongside the casualty, the lifeboat crew rigged a tow line in preparation for its recovery, during which it was determined that the casualty’s anchor was wedged in rocks below the water line and was preventing the recovery.
Lifeboat helm Ivan Greer, decided that due to the increase in sea swell and to prevent any possible safety risks to the casualty the anchor rope should be cut. The adult male agreed, and the lifeboat crew commenced the tow to Littlehampton Marina, where the casualty was safely moored.
The lifeboat returned to the station at 6.05pm where it was refuelled and made ready for service.
RNLI media contacts
- Ray Pye, Littlehampton RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer / 07854 074688, email [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email [email protected]
- 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.