Exmouth RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew launch to assist fishing trawler
At 5:24am on Saturday 14 December Exmouth’s RNLI All Weather Lifeboat, 13-33 Bridie O’Shea was alerted by HM Coastguard to go to the assistance of a fishing vessel reporting smoke in the engine room.
The lifeboat, standing in for Exmouth’s RNLI 13-03 R & J Welburn that is currently undergoing repairs, was launch by the volunteer crew shortly afterwards and they rapidly made their way to the scene. Led by Coxswain Roger Jackson, they were able to establish that the smoke was coming from an electrical generator. The volunteer lifeboat crew assisted the vessel to Exmouth Marina where they were met by a fire crew from Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service.
Volunteer RNLI Lifeboat crew involved in the emergency were :
Head Launcher : Toby Lagus
Tractor Driver : Henry Mock
Shorecrew : Steve Hockings-Thompson, Harry Griffin, Rory Carrig and Neil Cannon
Lifeboat Crew : Coxswain – Roger Jackson, Mechanic – Paul Balbi, Navigator – Roy Stott, Crew Personel – Mark Sansom, Steve Satchell and James Edge.
Congratulations to volunteer James Edge’s first experience on the all weather lifeboat as a crew member.
Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Roger Jackson said, 'The crew of the fishing vessel realised they had a potentially serious problem and did the right thing by calling for help at the earliest opportunity. We were pleased to go to their aid and escort them quickly to safety. This was a good example of excellent co-ordination with our HM Coastguard and Fire Service partners that meant this situation was dealt with rapidly and safely.”
The lifeboat completed the assignment and was back on station at 7:30am that day.
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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