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Eastbourne Lifeboat launched to runaway fishing boat

Lifeboats News Release

Eastbourne’s Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was launched early this morning to recover a fishing boat which escaped its owner and went to sea unaccompanied

Casualty vessel being brought back to beach by volunteer lifeboat crew

RNLI/Bob Jeffery

Casualty vessel returning home
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Shortly after 06.00 this morning (21 Jan) a local fisherman was attempting to launch his 18ft boat from the beach at Fisherman’s Green when he met with a bizarre accident. He lost contact with the vessel at a crucial moment and, with the engine running, it slipped out to sea. Despite a desperate attempt to catch the vessel it was soon out of reach so the fisherman had no alternative but to seek assistance from HM Coastguard. The volunteer ILB crew were requested to launch and following a brief search recovered the vessel heading towards Sovereign Harbour. Two crewmen were put aboard and returned the boat to a cold, wet and slightly embarrassed owner on the beach from whence it had set out.

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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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About the author

Bob Jeffery
Lifeboat Press Officer, Eastbourne Lifeboat Station

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