
Wells RNLI go to the aid of a man cut off by the tide
Wells inshore lifeboat was paged at 4:06 pm by the UK Coastguard to launch and render assistance to a person stranded on high ground at ‘The Nod’ in Brancaster Harbour.
The person had refused assistance from a number of boats in the harbour and indicated he was intending to wait a considerable period on the high ground until the tide had ebbed away and cross to Scolt Head. High Water was at 4:20 pm.
The inshore lifeboat with a crew of 3 launched outside the boathouse and proceeded towards Brancaster Harbour via Norton Creek. The weather was worsening as the afternoon progressed and the wind on launching was force 4 and increasing with a moderate sea running from the North East. The visibility was also deteriorating with mist patches.
The local coastguard team were also deployed and in attendance and were watching, from the local vantage point, the person cut off.
The lifeboat sighted the person and was alongside at 4:37pm and, on assessing the situation, the crew recommended that it was in the best interests of the person, given the weather and the person’s attire, that he returned to the safety of the shore in the lifeboat.
The lifeboat with the person dressed in suitable PPE and wearing a lifejacket left the scene at 4:50 pm and proceeded toward The Hard at Brancaster Staithe, where he was handed over to the local Coastguard unit.
With the person safely on shore, the lifeboat headed back to Wells harbour and was ashore at 5:55 pm and rehoused, sanitised and refuelled at 6:30 pm.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Adrian Underwood, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Office for Wells-next-the-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Station on 07976 717304 or [email protected]
Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Media Officer for the North and East on (07824) 518641 [email protected]
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.