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Douglas RNLI called out to assist in recovery of youths stranded on cliffs

Lifeboats News Release

Douglas RNLI volunteer crew were paged today (25 August) at 2.47pm to assist the Coastguard recover three youths from cliffs.

First youth being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer

RNLI/Mike Howland

First youth being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer
A post incident report from Douglas Coastguard recounts the circumstances of the call. ‘Douglas Coastguards were called today to 3 youths that had become stuck on the cliff just before the Toll Gates on the Marine Drive. The incident was a joint operation with Douglas Lifeboat as it was decided it was safer to lower two of the youths down to be recovered by the Lifeboat and recover one back to the top'

Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer, was launched under the command of coxswain Tony Radcliffe and with not far to go was quickly on the scene of the incident.

With two of the youths to be recovered to the lifeboat, volunteer crew members Robert Radcliffe and Michael Kaighen used the lifeboat’s daughter boat, an inflatable dinghy, to go ashore to liaise with the Coastguard Cliff Technician on site who assisted with transferring the two youths, one at a time, into the dinghy to be taken to the lifeboat.

With both youths safely onboard, and daughter boat and crew recovered, the lifeboat made the short journey back to harbour where the Coastguard were waiting with the youth recovered to the cliff top.

The three youths now reunited were left in the care of the Coastguard seeming none the worse for their experience.

Notes to editors
Caption for attached photos: Youths being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer. Credit: RNLI/Michael Howland

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mike Howland, Douglas RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624496029, email [email protected] or contact
Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Ireland on 00353876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Ireland on 00353871254124 or [email protected]


Second youth being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer

RNLI/Mike Howland

Second youth being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer

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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