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Walton and Frinton RNLI respond to Pan-Pan call

Lifeboats News Release

Walton and Frinton all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was launched on Friday April 19 at approx 9.45 pm to the assistance of a yacht with two people on board that had put out a Pan-Pan urgency call.

RNLI/Stewart Oxley

Walton and Frinton ALB
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The 33 foot long ketch, which was approx 11 miles ESE of Walton Pier, had been aground on the Long Sand and had re-floated but there was concern that it may have sustained damage.

The lifeboat was able to rendezvous with the vessel and assure Dover Coastguard that the yacht was able to proceed under it's own power. It was then requested that the lifeboat escort the yacht through the busy Inner Sunk ship anchorage.

Once clear of the anchorage the ALB then provided the yacht with a course for their next destination before returning to the pier mooring just before midnight.

RNLI Volunteer crew member Miranda Rayner commented: 'The outcome of a grounding of this sort can sometimes be very different but on this occasion conditions were relatively calm so the yacht was able to make its own way on to the River Deben once we had escorted them through the anchorage.'

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please telephone Miranda Rayner, Walton and Frinton RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799691852 or email [email protected] or Dale Steggles, Walton and Frinton RNLI Deputy Press Officer on 07540802302 or email [email protected]



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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

About the authors

Miranda Rayner
Lifeboat Press Officer, Walton & Frinton Lifeboat Station
Dale Steggles
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Walton and Frinton

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