Southend lifeboat crews launch hovercraft to teenagers cut off by incoming tide
Southend on sea RNLI’s search and rescue hovercraft was launched from the inshore boathouse at 6.37pm, to reports from the UK Coastguard of two persons just east of the pier, having difficulty making the shore, with the flooding tide.
The volunteer lifeboat crew located the two 18yr old males approx. 400yds offshore, just a short distance from the boathouse.
The casualties were waist deep in water and struggling to get ashore across the shellfish beds, having already sustained cuts to their feet and hands.
The two were safely ferried by hovercraft back to the boathouse to be met by a paramedic, who tended their injuries and then sent them on to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.
Southend crews stood down after washing down the hovercraft ready for service.
Southend Coastguard team were also on scene.
RNLI media contacts:
- Denis Freeman - Southend Lifeboat Station Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer. Tel - 07710406661, [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, Press Officer(London/ South East) Tel- 0207 6207426 / 07785296252 [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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