A busy day for RNLI Jersey
RNLI Jersey assisted in four incidents on Wednesday, three of which happened as part of the same launch.
Just after 2pm the all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist with a motorboat with 2 passengers which had been swamped near Noirmont. The Pilot boat, Rival, was first on scene and took the boat in tow, escorted back to St Helier by the all-weather lifeboat.
Shortly after 6pm the RNLI Jersey inshore lifeboat crew were paged following a report by a concerned member of the public who had seen 4 paddle boarders in St Aubin’s bay and who thought they were being blown offshore.
As the crew launched, they were informed by Coastguard that there was another incident developing. The Coastguard was concerned for three swimmers to the west of Elizabeth Marina as the sea was becoming challenging for someone in the water. The crew prioritised the swimmers and, as they were tracking towards the group, they identified two other swimmers heading to Elizabeth Castle but not making much way. The crew advised the swimmers to head back to shore and moved on to the next group. They made contact and established that they were comfortable and not in need of assistance.
The crew then headed to the paddle boarders but, by the time they arrived on scene, the paddle boarders had made shore and no further assistance was required.
The crew then headed back to station but decided to check on the first group of swimmers. Those swimmers had made very little progress in getting back to safety and were now getting cold. As a result, the swimmers were brought on board the inshore lifeboat and then returned them to shore.
The inshore lifeboat then returned to the St Helier lifeboat station, where she was refuelled and prepared for her next service.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.