Christmas Day Call Out For Aith Lifeboat
Christmas Denners in Aith were disrupted to tow a peerie boat to safety
The ten metre creel boat was making its way from Aith to Clousta, with one crew member onboard, when its engines overheated and the vessel started to drift towards rocks near Muckle Roe. The crew member managed to drop anchor and call for help.
The volunteer crew of the RNLI Charles Lidbury responded within minutes, despite the time of year. They faced a tricky operation to establish a secure tow line in rough sea conditions, and arrived just in time - with the creel boat only metres away from the rocks.
Only on the third attempt was the lifeboat able to get close enough to pass a tow line across, and took the creel boat out to deeper water - before beginning to tow it back to the pier in Aith - returning there by 2100 hours.
Aith Lifeboat Coxswain, John Robertson, was sitting down to Christmas pudding with his family when the alarm was raised. He says he would like to thank the local RNLI volunteers for showing such commitment, and answering their pagers on Christmas Day.
RNLI lifeboat crews carry pagers 365 days a year, and are ready to respond at a moment's notice to save lives at sea - even if the conditions would make most folk turn back. Over the last 40 years, the number of call outs across the UK during the festive period has gone up by 500%.
If you, or anyone else, does get into trouble in (or on) the water then please call 999, and ask for the Coastguard.
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.