Burnham on Crouch RNLI exercise turns into assist

Both the Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats had been out on exercise and were returning to station when volunteer crew member, Hamish Bethany, aboard the D class spotted a tender belonging to a larger boat moored just outside the comparative safety of Burnham on Crouch marina, in a somewhat distressed condition having been completely swamped by the rough water of the River Crouch.

The owner of the boat and tender was doing his best to prevent the tender from completely sinking. The D class went to assist with a volunteer crew member boarding the boat who along with the owner did their best to keep the tender afloat.

The D class was preparing to take the tender under tow when the better suited Atlantic 85 arrived on scene to take over and tow the tender into the marina.

The D class remained on standby returning to the boat to bring the volunteer crew member back to shore.

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