Filey RNLI in multi-asset search.
Filey‘s all-weather lifeboat was the first of 6 lifeboats called to a major incident in the North Sea yesterday afternoon. (Thursday 8th March)
At around 2.15pm UK Coastguard (Humber) requested the launch of Filey’s Mersey Class all-weather lifeboat (ALB), Keep Fit Association, to commence a search some 19 miles north east of Filey Brigg for a person who had possibly fallen overboard from the DFDS ferry Princess Seaways. Subsequently, lifeboats from Scarborough, Whitby, Hartlepool, Tynemouth and Blyth joined the search for the person who was last seen at 4am when the ferry was off the coast near Filey.
A short time later, the ALB launched under the command of volunteer coxswain, Alex Harrison, with Matt Wilkins, Pete Macauley, Ben Hargreaves, Andrew McKenzie and Liam Frampton as crew.
Despite an extensive search by all 6 lifeboats and a UK Coastguard rescue helicopter, nothing was found and the search was called off nearly six hours after the initial call.
Filey ALB returned to station at high water but in view of the damage caused to the beach by last week’s severe easterly storms, the boat was recovered some two hours later and made ready for service.
John Ward, Filey Lifeboat Press Officer said:” All the lifeboat crews did a very good job yesterday with such an extensive area to cover. Thanks especially to everyone who turned out here in Filey particularly the large number who assisted the recovery of the boat at midnight.”
Notes to editors
- Filey Lifeboat Station was founded in 1804. It currently operates both a Mersey-Class All-Weather Lifeboat and an Inshore Lifeboat. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to Filey Lifeboat Facebook page.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone John Ward, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07771800748 or [email protected]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.