Inflatable Dinghy being blown out to sea off Happisburgh.
HM Coastguard contacted Paul Broomfield, RNLI Deputy Launching Authority at Happisburgh, at 4:05pm and informed him that an inflatable dinghy with two persons on board was drifting out to sea.
He alerted the volunteer crew and the station’s Russell Pickering D class lifeboat was soon on the water with Tim Grimmer on helm and Martin Gibbs as crew. No sooner than they were on the water the Coastguard called them and informed them that a kayak had towed the dinghy to the beach; the crew were stood down and returned to the station.
Tim Grimmer said: ‘People need to be careful when using any type of inflatable on the beach, the inflatable needs to be tethered securely to the shore, someone needs to be ashore with means of calling for help if anything happens then call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, and don’t forget if your inflatable blows away, even if no one is onboard, please inform the Coastguard of where it is heading plus colour and size.'
Russell Pickering was refuelled and made ready for service again. The lifeboat station is greatful to the kayaker who towed the dinghy ashore.
RNLI Media contacts
· Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer Philip Smith,
Mobile 07766007936, E-mail lofty273@googlemail.com
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.
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