Happisburgh RNLI volunteers called into action for an inflatable
HM Coastguard set the station pagers off on Thursday 20 August, at 10.58am to reports of a person drifting out to sea in an inflatable which had lost its oars. This happened off the ramp to the beach off beach road, Happisburgh.
Russell Pickering the station’s D Class Lifeboat was made ready for launch with Tim Grimmer on the helm and Jake Munday and Chris Risby as crew. HM Coastguard were then alerted to the fact the person had made their way back to the beach where they were met by Bacton Coastguard.
Happisburgh lifeboat was stood down at 11:10am and the lifeboat returned to the boathouse.
Tim Grimmer urged people to: ‘Please not take any inflatables on the sea as they are meant for pools not the sea. Lifeboats around the country are getting so many calls to inflatables and unfortunately people are losing their lives.'
The RNLI advises that inflatables, blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out. If you do use them at the beach, then:
ensure children are closely supervised
keep near the shore
only use between the red and yellow beach flags
follow the lifeguard’s advice
do not take inflatables out in big waves
never use them when the orange windsock is flying, as this indicates offshore winds which will blow inflatables further out to sea
if you do get into difficulty, then stay with your inflatable as it will keep you above the water.
RNLI Media contacts
· Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer Philip Smith - Mobile:07766007936, Email: [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 142,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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