Aldeburgh RNLI launched to a Mayday Call with assistance from Lowestoft RNLI
Aldeburgh's all-weather lifeboat (ALB), ‘Freddie Cooper’, was launched on Thursday 4 October responding to a Mayday call for a yacht, that was in difficulty south of Aldeburgh.
At 5.10pm, there was a UK Coastguard request to launch the ALB to a yacht, with two people on board, one who was experiencing severe sea sickness.
The yacht had an overheated engine and when the crew tried to raise a sail, a rope became jammed. On arrival at scene, at 5.40pm, the situation was assessed by the lifeboat crew.
The yacht crew member had been unwell for nearly two hours and it was apparent that his situation would not improve by remaining on the yacht. He was transferred onto the lifeboat, where he was given casualty care assistance. Whilst returning to station with the unwell crew member, UK Coastguard requested Lowestoft Lifeboat launch to give assistance to the yacht, which was returning to Lowestoft. On arrival to Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station, lifeboat crew continued to administer care. The casualty recovered and was taken to rejoin his boat in Lowestoft.
In the meantime, a workboat, which was nearby, volunteered to escort the yacht. On arrival to the casualty, a Lowestoft lifeboat crew member was put onboard to help lower the sail and to rig a tow. Sea conditions improved as the tide turned and the yacht was brought in safely to Lowestoft, just before 10.30pm.
The yacht crew member,who had severe sea sickness, said he couldn't thank both crews enough for they what did for him.
Aldeburgh ALB was back on station at 6.07pm.
RNLI media contacts
Caron Hill, Aldeburgh RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 07837 263210 email [email protected]
Clare Hopps, RNLI Press Officer (North and East) 01642 790636 / 07824518641/ [email protected]
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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