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Party balloons spark call out for Hartlepool RNLI volunteers.

Lifeboats News Release

Hartlepool RNLI volunteers were paged by Humber Coastguard at 7.32pm on Tuesday 13th April to search an area off Seaton Carew where a member of the public thought they had seen a hang glider enter the water.

RNLI/Tom Collins

Hartlepool RNLI crewmembers Colm Simpson and Mark Barker(right) pictured with the now deflated letters that were recovered from the sea off Seaton Carew on Tuesday evening. Pic by Tom Collins
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The inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' with four crewmembers on board launched at 7.44pm and was on scene a few minutes later where they discovered some large half inflated silver letter balloons blowing about in the water.
ILB helm Ken Hay said 'The initial call call to the Coastguard was made with good intent and finding the object quickly brought the incident to a safe and satisfactory end'. The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road boathouse at 8.00pm and was refuelled and made ready for service again by 8.15pm.
The Hartlepool Coastguard Search and Rescue Team also attended the incident.

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

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Tom Collins
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hartlepool Lifeboat Station

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