Concerns for a man’s safety result in Lifeboat call out
After his vehicle got stuck in the mud on the incoming tide a man was advised by the lifeboat crew to leave the vehicle and go back to the shore
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 12.37pm on Sunday 14 October after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that concerns had been raised for the safety of some people trying to secure tow lines onto a Landrover that was stuck in mud off the Shingle Bank, Minster.
When the ILB arrived on the scene they found a man still in the half-submerged vehicle and with concerns for his safety he was advised to go back to the shore, which he did.
With the vehicle up to its axles in the mud attempts by shore-based vehicles to recover it were unsuccessful and so for the safety of other beach users the lifeboat crew managed to remove the tow lines from the vehicle and assisted in getting them back to the shore to the shore.
The ILB was back on station at 1. 30pm.Wind NW force 2
Having been totally submerged on the high tide it is believed that the vehicle was successfully recovered on the next low water around 11.30pm
The inshore lifeboat launched again at 5.54pm after a further call from the UK Coastguard reported a life raft had been spotted floating in the river of Gillingham Pier.
Whilst on route to the scene the lifeboat crew were advised that the Medway Coastguard rescue team had recovered a ‘Karley life Float’, as normally found on small passenger vessels, from the river at the Gillingham Marina fuel pontoon.
Being unsure of the life rafts origins and believing that no persons were thought to be in trouble the lifeboat crew were stood down and returned to station at 6.40pm. Wind Northerly force 4 to 5.
Footnote : This call out was number 100 this year so far for the busy Sheerness RNLI lifeboat volunteers.
Ends
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