Sheerness RNLI lifeboat called to a yacht aground in the River Medway
The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat responded after a yacht was reported to be hard aground and listing dangerously in the Medway estuary.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 7.15am on Saturday 6 July after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that a yacht, with one elderly man onboard, was hard aground and listing dangerously in the area of Stangate Creek in the River Medway. It was also reported that the man was sitting on top of the yachts cabin fearing that his craft was liable to list further and possibly roll due to its precarious position on the mud bank.
The lifeboat crew were initially unable to locate the casualty but with further information from the UK Coastguard the yacht was found just inside Sharfleet Creek on a marshy outcrop.
The owner, who was justifiably concerned for his craft, was happy to be removed to a place of safety by the lifeboat crew, who advised this course of action due to the tide still falling and the remoteness of the location.
Having made the yacht secure the man was taken onboard the lifeboat and dropped at the Queenborough all-tide-landing where he could make arrangements to recover his craft later in the day.
The ILB was back on station at 8.32am. Wind NW 2
Ends
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Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
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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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