RNLI Longhope Lifeboat launched to search for missing person
A poignant night for Longhope lifeboat crew members to be at sea
At 18.47pm Longhope lifeboat crew responded to a paged request to launch from UK Coastguard. Seven minutes later the lifeboat had left it's station and was heading up the bay.
An elderly person had been reported missing in St. Margaret's Hope and the lifeboat was to search the maritime area along with the local coastguards and police. As the lifeboat approached the search area they were stood down, the casualty having been found. Conditions at sea were good although bitterly cold.
The lifeboat arrived back at station by 19.40 and made ready again for service.
It was with great relief to see the lifeboat returning safely back home tonight as this is the 49th anniversary of the Longhope Lifeboat Disaster when all crew were lost due to their boat capsizing in a horrendous storm, while responding to a vessel in distress off Halcro Head.
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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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