Donate now

Volunteer crew from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI tasked with double shout

Lifeboats News Release

The charity's Atlantic and D class lifeboats were out on exercise when at approximately 10:45am on Sunday 23 June H.M. Coastguard directed the Atlantic to the mouth of the River Roach to assist a small fishing vessel in difficulty.

RNLI/Peter Harris

On exercise prior to double shouts
Download image
Upon arrival it was established that the fishing vessel with two people onboard had sustained engine failure.

An RNLI volunteer crew member from the Atlantic boarded the casualty vessel and successfully attached a tow line.

The Atlantic proceeded to tow the casualty safely back to Essex Marina on Wallasea Island.

On arrival in Essex Marina, H.M. Coastguard tasked the volunteer crew of Burnham-on-Crouch with their 2nd shout of the morning. A crew change was necessary so the Atlantic briefly returned to station before proceeding towards the casualty on the River Roach where on arrival it was established that the casualty was a sailing yacht with a fouled anchor.

Further investigation revealed that 20 meters of chain together with the anchor had somehow fouled and couldn’t be retrieved. The volunteer crew made several attempts to retrieve the chain and anchor but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

After consulting with the volunteer crew on the Atlantic, the owner of the sailing yacht decided to cut the anchor chain.

Once free the sailing yacht returned to Fambridge and the Atlantic returned to station and was ready for service by 1:45 p.m.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please contact Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07802 418298 or email:

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Peter Harris
Lifeboat Press Officer, Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat Station

Categories