Man taken to safety by Sheerness RNLI lifeboat.
A man was taken to safety after his small craft was seen drifting and out of control in the River Medway
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 1.53pm on Friday 14 June after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to reports of a 16 foot craft with one man onboard that was drifting and out of control in the busy River Medway shipping channel in the area of Gillingham reach.
Whilst on route the lifeboat was informed that the craft had now run aground inshore of number 29 buoy in the same area.
Having made best speed in the poor conditions the lifeboat arrived on the scene at 2.17pm. A crewman then walked across the mud to the casualty and spoke to the owner who was very reluctant to leave the vessel which it was noted had no communications, no engine or sails and no means of securing it, such as an anchor.
Whilst the lifeboat stood by a local craft offered to try and tow the casualty off the mud bank, which was successful, and from there towed it to a mooring off Gillingham Marina.
Once his craft was safe the man was landed ashore by the ILB to the Medway Coastguard Rescue Team who were on scene.
With a successful outcome the ILB was released and returned to station at 3.31pm. Wind SW 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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