Hoylake RNLI hovercraft rescues a man and 2 dogs cut off by the tide
Following a 999 call from a member of the public, RNLI volunteer crew from Hoylake lifeboat station were tasked by UK Coastguard to assist a man and 2 dogs who appeared to be cut off by the tide between Dovepoint and Barbers Folly in Meols.
Hoylake’s Hovercraft H-005 Hurley Spirit was launched at 11:52am and arrived on scene just 7 minutes later, following direction from the UK Coastguard who had eyes on the casualty from Dovepoint slipway.
The tide was flooding and so with no time to lose the volunteer crew recovered the man and his pets on to the hovercraft and delivered them safely ashore to meet the waiting Coastguard Rescue Officers.
With everyone safely ashore, Hoylake RNLI hovercraft returned to station to be made ready for her next service.
Volunteer hovercraft commander Chris Williams said: “The tide floods so quickly in this area. It’s easy for walkers to look around and assume they have plenty of time to make it back across the beach and unfortunately they can find themselves in difficulty. It really is vital to check the tide times before setting off."
RNLI Hoylake lifeboat station operates one of only four RNLI inshore rescue hovercrafts working to save lives across the UK in areas which are inaccessible to conventional lifeboats.
Volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are on standby 24 hours a day ready to fulfil their duty in search and rescue operations.
Notes to editors
- Hoylake lifeboat station has been operating since 1803. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/hoylake-lifeboat-station
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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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