Ilfracombe lifeboat launched to man cut off by tide
The Ilfracombe D class inshore lifeboat was launched on Sunday 19 April to assist a man cut off by tide in Ilfracombe harbour.
Ilfracombe RNLI were tasked by the Coastguard at 4.05 p.m. after a man had been sighted stranded by the rising tide on rocks near Ilfracombe harbour pier. The man had walked from the pier to the rocks when he was taken by surprise at the speed of the tide and was unable to return to the shore.
The volunteer crew launched the Ilfracombe inshore lifeboat the Deborah Brown II and quickly made their way across the harbour to where the man was sitting on the rocks.
Lifeboat Helm Leigh Hanks assessed the situation and crew member Becky Hutson was quickly put ashore to assist. The man was given a lifejacket and then taken aboard the lifeboat and returned to shore where he was met by members of the Coastguard service.
Leigh Hanks, RNLI Helm for Ilfracombe RNLI Lifeboat, says: ‘we would always recommend that people consult a tide timetable and be aware of the tides when walking around this part of the coast as it is easy for people to be caught out. Whilst the RNLI are always ready to assist people in need and to help save lives at sea, we would ask people be especially careful in the current circumstances to avoid needing to call for help from the RNLI or other emergency services wherever possible.’
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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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