Happisburgh Lifeboat Volunteers go to aid of cruiser
Happisburgh Lifeboat Volunteers were called into action tonight Sunday 9th June at 7:20pm to go to the aid of a 31 ft cruiser that had broken down off the coast at Happisburgh Lighthouse.
Deputy Launching Authority Paul Broomfield was alerted by the UK Coastguard and in turn alerted the crew for a launch of the Station’s Atlantic Howard Bell with Jake Munday on the helm and Martin Gibbs, Sean Thurston and Chris Rigsby as crew.
Howard Bell was soon alongside a 31 ft cruiser which had lost power with four persons on board; Martin Gibbs and Sean Thurston were put on board the cruiser to try to get the cruiser underway. They managed to get the engines started again but after 5 mins they stopped; the crew were unable to get them restarted. They then rigged for towing the cruiser to Great Yarmouth.
Once underway the Lifeboat was only making a speed of 6 knots which would have taken them till after 11pm to arrive at Great Yarmouth. The crew informed UK Coastguards and Caister Lifeboat was launched to come up the coast to meet them and then take over the tow to Great Yarmouth. The transfer of tow took place off Horsey at 9:30pm.
Once the tow was safely handed over to Caister Lifeboat the Howard Bell returned to Station and was rehoused and made ready for service by 10pm.
This was the first callout for Chris Rigsby. Jake Munday said “this was a good job and the crew all worked well together and it is always good to work with other Lifeboats”
- RNLI media contacts
· Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer PHILIP SMITH,
Mobile 07766007936, E-mail [email protected]
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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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