Withernsea Lifeboat pay respects to three crew members from the S.N.S.M
A crew of three from The National Society of Sea Rescue (French Lifeboats) sadly died when their vessel capsized whilst being tasked to the aid of a fishing boat experiencing engine trouble in extremely bad weather conditions on Friday afternoon.
The Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer is a French voluntary organisation founded in 1967, after merging with the Hospitaliers Saauveteurs Bretons. Its task is saving lives at sea around the French coast, including the overseas departments and territories.
This tragic news has resonated with a lot of people who have in the past worked with the National Society of Sea Rescue, Withernsea's Area Lifesaving Manager David Scott commented: 'Having spent a week with the S.N.S.M in 2016, as part of the I.M.R.F. International Crew Exchange Program, I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragedy in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
'On Sunday 9 June, I along with the crew of Withernsea Lifeboat, will pay our respects to our fallen colleagues by flying the RNLI flag at half mast and having a moments silence.
The RNLI family would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of our fellow lifesavers at this tragic time and our heart felt condolences to all at the S.N.S.M.'
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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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