Disabled craft and people cut off by the tide, a busy Saturday for Margate RNLI
Margate’s RNLI lifeboat has come to the aid of a disabled motor cruiser while also assisting people cut off by the tide during a busy Saturday for the station’s volunteer crew.
The first call was just after 10am this morning (Saturday 30 June) when a motor cruiser with two people and a dog on board contacted UK Coastguard stating they had encountered machinery failure and required assistance. They were around half a mile off Westgate-on-Sea and on passage from Eastbourne to the River Humber.
Margate’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist and soon on scene where after establishing that the casualty vessel’s crew were safe and well took the vessel in tow to the safety of Ramsgate harbour.
During the lifeboat’s passage back to Margate they were diverted after UK Coastguard received reports of people cut off by the tide between Stone Bay, Broadstairs and Joss Bay, Kingsgate. The lifeboat crew established that eight people appeared to be cut off beneath North Foreland lighthouse and the assistance of Ramsgate’s RNLI inshore lifeboat was requested.
The Margate lifeboat remained on scene and kept the casualties under observation until the Ramsgate boat arrived after which the people were able to make their own way back to the clifftop via a stairway to be met by Margate Coastguard Rescue Team. Both lifeboats then returned to station.
Peter Barker, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate Lifeboat said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of people getting cut off by the tide at the time of high spring tides around early afternoon. Margate and Ramsgate RNLI publish tide times on their Facebook page prior to each weekend and we urge people to check these, alternatively check with their local RNLI Lifeguard team. Mobile phones will not always work at the bottom of cliffs and there is a very real element of danger if unable to attract attention.
ENDS
RNLI Media contacts
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Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]
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Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
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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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