Swanage lifeboat volunteers launch to two rescues in one evening
Just as the volunteer lifeboat crew were gathering for their Wednesday evening training launch, the inshore lifeboat (the relief lifeboat D798 ‘John Wickens’) was requested by HM Coastguard to assist a jetski with three people onboard that had broken down near Old Harry Rocks.
The jetski was reported as being very close to the rocks and a passing boat, the ‘Silver Stella’, was trying to assist but was limited by the depth of water. The inshore lifeboat (ILB) proceeded towards Old Harry Rocks and then received an update that Silver Stella had succeeded in attaching a tow and had taken the jetski into deeper water and were making their way towards Poole Harbour.
The ILB caught up with Silver Stella and the jetski so that the lifeboat could take over the tow. The jetski and three casualties were taken back to their start location in Baiter Park.
As the lifeboat was set to return to station the ILB was then immediately tasked to a second incident, an 8m yacht ‘Celerina’ which had suffered a breakdown and was under tow by a larger vessel ‘Prolific’.
As Prolific was concerned about her restricted manoeuvrability in the confines of the Port of Poole Marina it was requested that the lifeboat take the casualty vessel under tow to safely transfer the casualty vessel to the Marina.
With the casualty vessel safely alongside, the ILB was freed to return to station. Senior Helmsman Tom Greasty said ‘as it was training night some crew were already at the station and we were able to launch quickly. It was new crewman, Jarv’s, first callout and it was a great chance for him to put his training into practice’.
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