Four taken to safety by RNLI lifeboat crew
Four people including two children were rescued after their dinghy drifted away leaving them stranded on an island in the River Medway.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ were tasked by the UK Coastguard at 7.28pm on Saturday 8 June to reports of two men and two children aged 13 and 7 years who had become stranded on Hoo Island close to Folly Point in the River Medway after their dinghy had drifted away.
Having arrived on the scene the lifeboat, directed by the Medway Coastguard Rescue Team, located the four and took them onboard the lifeboat. The children were then landed at Gillingham Marina and the adults, along with their dinghy, were landed at Gillingham Strand Hard.
All four were wearing lifejackets and were non the worse for their mishap.
The lifeboat was released at 8.24pm and whilst returning to station was tasked to attend another incident, this time at Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey.
Having arrived on the scene at 9.00pm the crew stood off whilst Kent Police dealt with the incident.
The ILB was released and back on station ready for service again at 10.24pm
Wind SW force 4-5
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
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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