Hoylake RNLI launches to paramotor after emergency landing in Dee Estuary
Hoylake RNLI launches to paramotor after emergency landing in Dee Estuary
Lifeboats News Release
Hoylake RNLI hovercraft was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 7.10pm last night to reports that a powered paraglider had made an emergency landing into mud in the Dee Estuary.
Hoylake RNLI
With light fading and the tide flooding, emergency services acted quickly to locate the casualty
With the tide flooding and the light fading, the RNLI hovercraft Hurley Spirit
and her volunteer crew launched quickly and headed to the landing site, which was reported to be around one mile west of West Kirby Sailing Club.
Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team officers had arrived on scene at the south end of West Kirby Marine Lake and located the casualty’s position with help from eyewitnesses. Two Coastguard officers headed out across the mud and were able to reach the casualty, who fortunately required no medical attention and was walking ashore with his equipment.
With the Dee Estuary now in darkness, the Hoylake Hovercraft crew were able to locate the casualty and Coastguard officers thanks to a strobing light on the casualty’s equipment. The hovercraft arrived at their location and the casualty and his kit, which included a large paramotor and wing, were brought on board by the RNLI crew. After a short journey across the muddy beach, the casualty was landed ashore safely at the slipway on the Marine Lake wall.
Once the casualty was transferred to waiting Wirral Coastguard officers, the Hoylake Hovercraft stood down and returned to the lifeboat station to be washed down, refuelled and made ready for service again.
Hoylake RNLI volunteer hovercraft commander Matt Schanck said: ‘It was fortunate that the casualty was able to make a safe landing in what can be a dangerous part of the Dee Estuary, especially with the flooding tide.’
‘Thanks to the response of the Coastguard, the help of eyewitnesses, and the experience and preparedness of the casualty, he was located quickly before the conditions on the beach became more hazardous.’
Matt added: ‘Paramotoring is a popular pastime around our region’s coast and we advise anyone taking to the air over the water to ensure they have all the right safety equipment, wear a floatation device and carry a means of calling for help. In a coastal emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’
Hoylake RNLI
The powered paraglider made an emergency landing in the Dee Estuary
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.
