Anglers rescued in Father’s Day call out for Hoylake and New Brighton RNLI
A small fishing boat and her crew of four were rescued by the New Brighton and Hoylake RNLI lifeboats yesterday after the vessel suffered mechanical failure in Liverpool Bay.
New Brighton RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked at 3.52pm. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Norma Ethel Vinall launched quickly and headed to the scene south of the Queen’s Channel of the River Mersey.
New Brighton RNLI Helm Dan Wardle said: ‘We found the fishing boat over a bank behind the channel’s retaining wall, also known as the revetment wall. It was in 1.5m breaking waves and getting close to going aground, so both it and those onboard were in a very perilous position.
‘Once we’d freed the boat and in light of deteriorating sea conditions, we requested assistance from Hoylake RNLI. Our inshore lifeboat towed the casualty vessel as far as the entrance to the main channel.’
Hoylake RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged at 4.29pm and the station’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood headed swiftly to the casualty’s position. Arriving on scene, the Hoylake and New Brighton crews liaised and prepared for the tow to be transferred to the all-weather lifeboat.
Once a towline was secured to the fishing boat by the Hoylake Lifeboat crew, the vessels headed into the River Mersey with New Brighton Lifeboat following in escort. When the vessels had reached the shallow waters of New Brighton beach, the tow was passed back to New Brighton Lifeboat.
Dan continued: ‘Our lifeboat then towed the vessel in for our shore crew to bring it and its crew safely to land. This was a great example of RNLI teamwork in action and highlights the important role flanking stations have in supporting each other.’
With the anglers and their boat safely ashore, Hoylake and New Brighton RNLI lifeboats stood down and returned to station.
Hoylake RNLI Deputy 2nd Coxswain Alistair Knowles said: ‘The fishing boat had broken down in a hazardous area of the River Mersey. The risks posed by the busy shipping lanes, the revetment wall, numerous shipwrecks and the poor weather meant that it was crucial to bring the vessel and those on board out of harm’s way as quickly and safely as possible. The anglers and their boat were rescued thanks to the professionalism and teamwork between the two RNLI lifeboat crews.’
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
- Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or [email protected]
- Cherie Rowlands, New Brighton RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07989 596 990 or [email protected]
- The RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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