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Walmer RNLI diverted from exercise to assist in search for missing person

Lifeboats News Release

Walmer's first call of the year was in response to a call for assistance from UK Coastguard to help search for a missing person.

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

Walmer Inshore Lifeboat 'Duggie Rodbard'.
Walmer's Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and D Class inshore lifeboat Duggie Rodbard were already at sea on exercise on Sunday 21 January when they were redirected by the Dover Coastguard to assist Dover lifeboat in the search for a missing person. Both boats helped search the area from St Margaret's Bay to the eastern arm of Dover Harbour.

With the help of the Coastguard helicopter and coastguard officers from Deal and Langdon, a casualty was located at the foot of the cliffs near Langdon Bay. Five crew members were put ashore to help with the extraction. The casualty was taken by the D Class lifeboat and transferred to the Atlantic 85 to be taken to Dover.

The Duggie Rodbard returned to station at 12.55 pm and the Donald McLachlan at 1.30 pm.

Speaking at the crew debrief, Deputy Launching Authority Tony Evans thanked the crews for their professionalism under difficult circumstances.

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station 07906 623037 [email protected]
  • Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825, [email protected]
  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

Walmer Atlantic 85 'Donald McLachlan'

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.

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