Volunteer crew from Burnham on Crouch RNLI assist colleagues from Clacton on Sea
Volunteer crew from Burnham on Crouch RNLI assist colleagues from Clacton on Sea
Lifeboats News Release
Alerted by a Pan Pan, HM Coastguard tasked the volunteer crew from Burnham on Crouch at 7:12 PM on Sunday 18 August to assist their colleagues from Clacton on Sea who had responded to an earlier request from the Coastguard to assist a two man rowing boat that had left Burnham earlier in the day.
The two men were attempting to return to Burnham on Crouch on Sunday evening against a strong ebb tide and a moderate headwind but were struggling to make headway. Unfortunately the two men were tiring and sent out a Pan Pan around 6pm.
The volunteer crew from Clacton on Sea responded in their Atlantic class and commenced a tow towards Burnham on Crouch. Following liaison between the casualty, Clacton on Sea and HM Coastguard, it was agreed to transfer the tow in the vicinity of Whitaker No 6 Buoy to the care of the volunteer crew from Burnham on Crouch who attended aboard their Atlantic Class
Tony and Robert Britt.
The transfer of the tow line was successfully carried out and the rowing boat and its crew were safety recovered and returned home to Burnham on Crouch at approximately 10.30pm. Upon arrival the two casualty rowers were understandably very cold and exhausted and were offered a hot shower and a cup of tea with the crew sharing some of their experiences as they recovered from their ordeal.
Once recovered, the casualties expressed their thanks and appreciation for the combined action from the volunteers of Clacton on Sea and Burnham on Crouch who demonstrated great team work.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07802 418298 or email: [email protected]
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.
