Sheerness RNLI lifeboat launched twice in a matter of hours.
The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat was called out to two separate incidents in just over four hours in one day at the weekend.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 4.40pm on Sunday 7 July after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a 22foot motor cruiser that had broken down and was drifting in the entrance to Stangate Creek in the River Medway.
The lifeboat located the casualty with three people onboard at 4.57pm and attached a towline. The three confirmed they were all ok and willing to remain onboard whilst their craft was towed back to the all tide landing at Queenborough Harbour.
The ILB was back on station at 6.10pm.
The Inshore lifeboat was tasked again later that evening at 9.04pm to reports of an inflatable with one or possibly two persons on board that was drifting approximately half a mile offshore at Sheerness.
The lifeboat carried out a search of the area, checking any objects that were sighted. The Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team made a search of the shoreline whilst the tug Svitzer Monarch, which was transiting the area, also kept a sharp lookout.
With the onset of darkness, the ILB returned to station to collect searchlights and night vision equipment to enable the search to continue.
With nothing untoward found the lifeboat was finally released at 11.05pm and was back on station and ready for service at 11.59pm
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RNLI media contacts
Vic.Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness)
tel.01795 880544.mob.0796904453 email. [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer (South East)
tel.07785 296252, 0207 6207426 [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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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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