Busy afternoon for Weymouth lifeboats
Solent Coastguard requested that Weymouth RNLI all-weather and Inshore lifeboats launch at approx 3pm on Wednesday 10th June to possible be used in the extraction of a woman climber who had fallen from a cliff on Portland and was severely injured.
The Inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 3.20pm. But before the all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene it was decided by the Coastguard cliff rescue teams involved with the rescue, that due to the difficult terrain to get to the shore line for a transfer, that a helicopter and not lifeboat would be the best and safest means of rescue.
With this information both lifeboats were stood down and returned to Weymouth Harbour at 3.50pm.
Just as the all-weather lifeboat was coming alongside its berth in the harbour, news came in of a Pan Pan emergency call from a yacht in difficulties in Portland race.
The lifeboat immediately turned around and headed back to Portland Bill. On arrival it was found that an 11m yacht was stuck in the middle of the notoriously rough waters of the race.
Having established that the two persons on board were safe and well the lifeboat guided the yacht, which was under motor and not sail, out of the race and into the calmer waters close into Portland.
They escorted the yacht as far as the entrance to Portland Harbour where the yacht was left to find its own way to a berth in Portland Marina.
The lifeboat returned to station at 7pm where it was refuelled and made ready for the next shout.
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
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