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Poole RNLI launch on Christmas Day to reports of a red flare

Lifeboats News Release

Poole volunteers had their festive celebrations interrupted on Christmas Day as a request to launch the lifeboat was received by UK Coastguard.

RNLI/Dave Riley

Poole Atlantic lifeboat
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A sighting of a red flare had been reported from a member of the public in the vicinity of the Wareham channel.

The lifeboat proceeded at 5:45pm in bitterly cold conditions to the Wareham Channel while Poole Coastguard Rescue Team also searched the area from the land. The lifeboat searched from Hamworthy to the entrance to Wareham and back to Rockley.

After an extensive search on the water and nothing found the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station at 7:30pm to hot chocolate and mince pies.

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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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.

About the author

David Riley
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Poole Lifeboat Station

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