Ramsgate RNLI rescues woman cut off by the tide.
On a warm afternoon on Thursday 20 June, the Ramsgate inshore lifeboat (ILB) was launched to a woman who had climbed up the cliffs to escape the incoming tide.
The call to launch the inshore lifeboat and rescue the woman, who was walking along the beach on her own from Ramsgate to Margate, came though at 1.50pm.
The woman, a local resident, had picked a warm sunny afternoon to stroll along the beach to the neighbouring town. However by the time she had left Ramsgate and reached Stone Bay in Broadstairs she was caught out by a rising tide and in order to avoid the water decided to climb about ten foot up the cliff face. Thankfully she had a mobile phone with her, as she was out of sight from the land, in order to raise the alarm.
The three volunteer crew managed to steer the ILB close to the cliffs where two of the crew entered the water. The initial reason for entering the water was to check that it was safe to bring the inshore lifeboat close to the foot of the cliffs and ensure there were no sharp rocks that could damage the hull and the second reason was to hold the rib still whilst the woman jumped from the cliff and into the boat.
The crew then dropped her safely off at Broadstairs main beach, shaken but unharmed and then returned the ILB to Ramsgate RNLI station, to be placed back on service.
Media Contacts:
Karen Cox Ramsgate Lifeboat Press Officer email [email protected] tel 07779 848431.
Paul Dunt RNLI Regional Media Officer London and South East. Email [email protected] tel 07785 296252.
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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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