Cowes lifeboat in night-time rescue drama
A night time drama in which a crippled motor-cruiser with four people aboard was in danger of drifting into a shipping lane led to the urgent launching early today of Cowes RNLI lifeboat.
The 12 metre Gabriele had lost power off Egypt Light, and its anchor was dragging in the flood tide. After launching at 1.38 am the lifeboat was quickly on the scene and towed the craft, whose home port was Portsmouth, to a fuel berth in the River Medina.
The lifeboat returned to station at 2.45 am.
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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