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