Gorleston RNLI launched to rescue 21 people on the Norfolk Broads
The Atlantic 75 B class relief boat ‘Pride of Leicester’ at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston was launched at 3.51pm on the 23 October 2018 to reports of two casualty vessels aground on Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth.
The volunteer crew were paged by UK Coastguard to attend two casualty vessels with 17 sea cadets from Sunderland and their 4 instructors.
The Atlantic 75 proceeded to the location given by UK Coastguard close to the Berney Arms. Once on scene the lifeboat and the volunteer crew coordinated a plan to get the people off the casualty vessel.
14 casualties were taken off via the Atlantic 75 with assistance from the Broads Authority boat.
Due to the inshore lifeboat quickly losing water depth due to an outgoing tide, the Arancia ‘Kingfisher’ craft was tasked to attend the incident.
Due to the size of the Arancia in comparison to the Atlantic 75 it can go into much shallower depths, this enabled the remaining people to be removed from both casualty vessels.
19 people were taken to the Berney Arms via the inshore lifeboats and Broads Authority boat.
One cadet and their instructor was taken back to Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Lifeboat Station to meet with the East of England Ambulance service due to the cadet showing signs of being unwell.
The casualty vessels had ended up on the mud due to one of the vessels carrying some of the cadets having engine failure and drifting onto the mud via the wind. The other casualty vessel had gone in to try and tow the vessel off the mud but was unsuccessful and therefore got stuck themselves.
The casualty hire vessels were made secure and will remain aground until the tide comes in again to re-float and the hire company will ensure the safe onward journey of the sea cadets.
Both lifeboats returned to station where they were refuelled and ready for service at 6pm.
Volunteer Helm and 3rd Coxswain, Rod Wells said: ‘Due to the remote location with the cadet feeling unwell it was deemed necessary to take them to the station where they could be met by the Ambulance Service. A job well done by the crew’
Volunteer Helm and 2nd Coxswain in command of Arancia, Andrew Mason, said: ‘Both lifeboat crews worked well together ferrying the persons off the hire craft. If you see a cruiser in difficulty please contact 999 and ask for Coastguard.’
RNLI media contacts
- Kimberley Platford, RNLI Gorleston & Great Yarmouth Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer and Crew
EMAIL [email protected]
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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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