Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat and RNLI beach lifeguards rescue 3 persons.
Weymouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was launched at 6.15pm on Sunday 8th July at the request of Solent Coastguard to investigate reports of jet skies stranded near Redcliffe Point just to the east of Bowleaze Cove.
On arrival the volunteer Inshore lifeboat crew found that two jet skies were tied up to a pot buoy, with the RNLI Beach lifeguards in attendance. The RNLI Beach lifeguards had launched their inshore rescue boat (IRB) from Greenhill and were on scene a few minutes before the RNLI inshore lifeboat and were able to offer reassurance that help was on the way.
On questioning the jet ski crews it appeared that a jet ski with two 18 year old women on had suffered engine failure and a 46 year old male on a second jet ski had offered assistance when his engine was disabled by intaking a loose piece of rope. This meant that both jet skies were stranded some 50 metres from the shore.
The RNLI inshore lifeboat took the riders onto the lifeboat and towed both jet skies back to Bowleaze Cove arriving at 6.40pm where family and friends were waiting.
With all the jet ski drivers and passengers in a place of safety the lifeboat was returned to Weymouth Harbour arriving at approx 7pm.
The lifeboat was then refuelled and made ready for service.
On return to shore, RNLI Inshore lifeboat Helm Nick Newman said, 'We found the two jet skies had the misfortune to have engine failure. I was pleased to see that they were all wearing buoyancy aids and were carrying a means of calling for help.'
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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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