Donate now

Withernsea volunteers on back to back callouts to people in the water in dinghy

Lifeboats News Release

Monday 22 July, Withernsea RNLI were launched to a report of two people drifting on an inflatable dinghy half a mile off Pier Towers. When on route the crew were informed the casualties were a pregnant mother and her young child.

RNLI/Rachel Gowen

The Mary Beal heading out to the inflatable

The Mary Beal started the summer holidays with back to back callouts as people were reported to be in difficulty in the water in rubber dinghys.

The first call came just before 4pm. A crew of three launched efficiently to the aid of a pregnant woman and her young child. When they arrived on scene a lifeguard was with the casualties, keeping them calm and reassuring them help was on the way.

Volunteer crew member Paul Tomlinson commented: 'We recovered both mother and child onto the lifeboat and headed to the beach near the lifeguard Hut. Both casualties were OK and required no medical treatment.'

The crew were then stood down and headed back to the station for a debrief, only to receive a second callout before the debrief was over.

Another dinghy had been blown out to sea with 4 people who could have been in the water. On arrival the dinghy had made it back to shore. One of the casualties looked unwell. Casualty care was given and an ambulance was called.

Crewman Matthew Woodhouse was on the second launch, alongside an experienced Helm and another crew member. Matthew commented: 'Both of these callouts showed how well RNLI Lifeboat crews and RNLI Lifeguards work together, with both calls having positive outcomes. We urge everybody to stay safe on the coast and avoid using inflatables in the sea. 6 people were assisted in the space of an hour, this could have had a very different ending if it weren't for the fast response of the volunteers of the Lifeboat crew and RNLI Lifeguards.'


RNLI Media contacts

For more information please contact Rachel Gowen, RNLI Volunteer Press Officer: [email protected]


RNLI/Rachel Gowen

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

Categories