Two more calls for the busy Sheerness RNLI lifeboat crew.
The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched twice on Friday at the end of a very busy week for the volunteers.
The inshore lifeboat was launched at 4.52pm on Friday 5 October after a small motor cruiser was reported to be aground on Sheerness sea front close to Garrison Point and that the two occupants were seen to be waving for assistance.
The ILB arrived at the location given at 4.59pm but due to the extremely poor visibility at that time in the area the crew were unable to locate the casualty craft immediately. Whilst searching the area there was a break in the fog and a craft was seen to be aground on Grain Spit on the other side of the estuary to the original location given.
Having established that this was the vessel they were looking for the lifeboat crew attached a tow line and pulled the casualty into deeper water from where they escorted it to safety in the direction of Allhallows.
The ILB was back on station at 5.35pm. Wind Easterly force 2, visibility moderate to poor.
The ILB was launched again at 10.25pm later the same day after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that three, possibly four, people were in the water at Chatham in the area of Sun Pier.
Coastguard helicopter 163 and shore-based coastguard rescue teams had also been mobilised to search the area.
The ILB was on the scene at 11.05pm and along with the Coastguard teams an intensive search of the area using infra-red and image intensifying equipment was carried out.
With nothing untoward found the search was halted at 11.36pm and all units were stood down.
The ILB was back on station at 0.15am. Weather good with light airs, calm seas and good visibility.
Ends
RNLI media contacts
Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
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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