RNLI lifeboats involved after a battery explosion
Multi agency rescue teams were involved after a battery exploded on board a leisure craft in the Thames Estuary
The Sheerness all weather lifeboat was called by the UK Coastguard at 2.48pm on Friday 8 June and requested to rendezvous with the Southend RNLI lifeboat out in the Thames Estuary.
The Southend lifeboat was towing a 12.5 metre Sports Cruiser with two men and a woman on board that had been disabled after its battery had exploded some two hours earlier in the area of Blacktail Spit off the Essex coast.
The two lifeboats made contact just west of the SS Richard Montgomery wreck where the Sheerness crew took over the tow of the casualty and were also advised that none of the occupants were injured.
The Southend lifeboat escorted the Sheerness lifeboat with the casualty craft in tow back to the all tide landing at Queenborough where the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team and a Kent Fire and Rescue team were waiting as a precaution in case of fire and there being toxic fumes present due to acid spillage in the crafts bilges.
The lifeboats were stood down at 3.34pm and the Sheerness crew were back on station at 3.45pm
Wind Easterly force 2.
Ends
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Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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