A busy night of call outs for Harwich RNLI

The lifeboat crew were alerted at 9.20pm after the UK Coastguard had received a report of the person in the water.

Shortly after being called, the lifeboat crew was stood down. The individual had been recovered from the water and the lifeboat was no longer required.

Just hours later, another person in the water led to the launch of the inshore lifeboat in the early hours of Saturday. The volunteer crew were woken by the pagers at 2.25am, to attend an ongoing incident at the low lighthouses in Dovercourt Bay.

Shortly after launching, the lifeboat was stood down. The individual was safely ashore and in the care of other emergency services.

After returning to station, the inshore lifeboat was being refuelled and washed down when a report of a drifting vessel was received. The lifeboat was re-launched and was quickly on scene at the reported position, just off the Navy Yard, Harwich.

The engine was found to be cold and the cabin was secure, suggesting the vessel had not been recently in use. The vessel was also known to be local.

With the vessel presenting a serious danger to navigation in the main channel through the harbour, it was taken in tow and moored safely at Harwich.

Commenting on what was a busy night for Harwich RNLI, a spokesperson for the station said: 'Our lifeboat crew have responded to three potentially very serious calls in a six to seven hour period. Thankfully, persons in the water have been assisted leading to the lifeboat being stood down, and a drifting vessel presenting a serious danger to navigation has been secured.

'After four call outs this week, we would urge people to stay safe, be vigilant, ensure vessels are securely moored, and in the event of a coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard'.