Multiple service calls end with a round of applause
Walmer RNLI responds to five emergency calls in sixteen hours.
Walmer volunteers on board their Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan began a busy weekend on Friday 7 August with an initial paging at 7.46pm which resulted in the rescue of three people. While returning the crew were tasked to search near the new Dover Harbour pier due to concern for a person who had entered the water. It was discovered that the person had made it safely back to shore. The lifeboat to return to station at around 10.15pm when it was cleaned and made ready for service.
After returning from a further launch at 9.05am on Saturday 8 August, the crew were paged at 12.51pm, again launched on board Donald McLauchlan and were tasked to reports of a vessel taking on water between Walmer and Fan Bay. A careful search revealed nothing untoward. While returning to station the lifeboat assisted two people cut off under the cliffs by the rising tide. The casualties, after being asked if they were displaying any symptoms of Covid 19, were taken on board and landed back near The Coastguard Restaurant and Bar in St Margaret’s Bay to a round of applause from bathers on the beach.
On returning to station, crew kit and the lifeboat were thoroughly cleansed and made ready for service again.
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.