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Three calls in three days for busy RNLI Margate

Lifeboats News Release

Margate RNLI’s busy summer season has continued into September with three calls in three days involving both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats.

Margate RNLI inshore lifeboat 'Tigger Three' (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

Margate RNLI inshore lifeboat 'Tigger Three' (RNLI Margate)
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The first call came on Friday afternoon (31 August) when a speedboat with one person on board was towed to Foreness Bay by the inshore lifeboat after it encountered machinery failure and was adrift around half a mile off the coast at Margate.

The inshore lifeboat was called out again on Saturday afternoon (1 September) when an 18’ angling dinghy also experienced problems with its engine while around three miles off Westgate-on-Sea. Once again, the disabled vessel, with two persons on board, was towed to its launching site at Foreness Bay.

Finally, just after 9am on Sunday (2 September) the sole occupant of a yacht on passage from the river Swale to Ramsgate contacted UK Coastguard reporting engine failure and drifting into shallow water off Reculver Towers, around seven miles west of Margate. The town’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked on this occasion and after ensuring the occupant was safe and well took the yacht in tow for the two-and-a-half-hour passage to the safety of Ramsgate harbour.

Nick Smith, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: “These may seem straight-forward ‘tow-home’ call-outs but in all three instances they needed assistance and the busy weekend confirms the need for both an inshore and all-weather lifeboat at Margate.”

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

  • Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]

  • Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Margate RNLI all-weather lifeboat 'Leonard Kent' outside the lifeboat station (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

Margate RNLI all-weather lifeboat 'Leonard Kent' outside the lifeboat station (RNLI Margate)
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Key facts about the RNLI

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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