Margate RNLI provides assistance to disabled PWC

Margate’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were paged around 5.30pm yesterday (Monday 19 August) following a report to UK Coastguard of two people in the water with their PWC, close inshore off Epple Bay, Birchington-on-Sea. With concern for their safety the inshore lifeboat was tasked to investigate.

When the lifeboat arrived, the craft had drifted down-tide to a position off Westgate-on-Sea with the two occupants still in the water. They were taken on board the lifeboat and it was established their craft had broken down and they were attempting to return it to the shore from in the water itself.

The PWC was taken under tow and together with the two occupants, who were unharmed after their mishap, returned to its launching site at Beresford Gap.

Paul Hodson, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Margate RNLI said: “If your craft breaks down we urge you to remain on board and attempt to raise the alarm by attracting the attention of people ashore or using the recognised means of indicating you need assistance: flares, marine VHF radio or if close to shore via the 999 system to the coastguard from a mobile phone.”

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

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

• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (SouthEast), 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 [email protected]

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

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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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