Volunteers from Burnham-on-Crouch tasked to assist person in river
Tasked at 3.48pm on Saturday 22 August by HM Coastguard to reports of a capsized dingy and a person in the water, the volunteers from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI immediately launched their Atlantic Class lifeboat ‘Tony and Robert Britt’.
Whilst en route to the casualty, they were stood down by HM Coastguard as a passing vessel had safely retrieved the person from the choppy waters of the River.
Follow these 5 basic #FloatToLive steps that could save your life if you get into trouble in the water:
1. Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about
2. Lean back, extend your arms and legs
3. If you need to, gently move your arms and legs to help you float
4. Float until you can control your breathing
5. Call for help or swim to safety
If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, which thankfully someone did on this occasion.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07802 418298 or email:
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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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.