Two call outs in 24 hours for the volunteers of Port St Mary RNLI

The volunteer lifeboat crew were first requested to launch their all-weather and inshore lifeboats at 7.14pm on Thursday (13 August).

The request came from Belfast Coastguard following a report that two people in a small Laser 2000 sailing dinghy were overdue.

Port St Mary RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat Gough Richie II, was launched under the command of Coxswain Michael Keggen, along with the inshore D class lifeboat Spirit of Leicester, helmed by Richard Leigh.

With the last position of the vessel unknown, the all-weather lifeboat started a search along the coastline towards the Calf of Man, while the inshore lifeboat went towards Castletown.

Port Erin RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Muriel and Leslie, was also launched to assist with the search.

At approximately 7.50pm, the crew of a local pleasure craft radioed with a possible location of the vessel just off Castletown Bell Buoy.

Port Erin RNLI’s inshore lifeboat established communication before finding that the two men onboard who were wearing lifejackets were safe and well. The inshore lifeboat proceeded to escort both the casualties and their vessel back into Port St Mary.

Port St Mary RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew received a second request by HM Coastguard at 2.24pm on Friday following a report that a small inflatable boat was in difficulty.

Weather conditions at the time were good with a flat calm sea and a slight easterly breeze.

The inshore lifeboat Spirit of Leicester, was launched and quickly located the casualty vessel with two people onboard. The call was a false alarm with good intent.

Both were found to be safe and well and were escorted back to Castletown harbour.

Speaking following a busy 24 hours, Sarh Keggen, Port St Mary RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We would like to remind all pleasure boat users of the importance of taking a form of communication with them when out on the water, as well as giving an estimated time of return to family or friends ashore’.

Ends

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.

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