Cowes Lifeboat Races to Rescue Drifting Fishermen
The Cowes RNLI lifeboat crew ensured that two-men aboard a powerless fishing boat did not have to linger long in a wind-swept shipping lane this afternoon.
The boat had suffered engine failure in a Force 6-7 south-westerly and was drifting on the tide in the Solent, one mile north-west of Cowes Harbour. This was an area where commercial shipping took a sharp turn at speed.
Fortunately, the lifeboat reached them well before any ships passed through, and towed their boat to the safety of Trinity Landing.
The lifeboat which had launched just after 2.30 pm, was soon back at the station. “Job done in just 45 minutes,” said an appreciative volunteer station operations manager, Mark Southwell.
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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