Three call outs in one evening for Eastbourne RNLI

The first call out was at 4.11pm to reports of a 41ft motor cruiser that had issued a Mayday call after a fire in the engine room close to the Sovereign light tower.

Both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats were launched with the inshore lifeboat first on the scene. The motor cruisers fire suppression system had extinguished the fire but due to the situation the three people on board the motor cruiser were transferred to the all-weather boat.

Then inshore lifeboat crew member Peter Needham was transferred to the motor cruiser and it was towed back to the safety of Sovereign Harbour where the fire brigade and Coastguard were waiting and checked the vessel over in the locks before it was towed into the harbour.

As the motor cruiser was towed through the locks the pagers went again and they were tasked to assist a 30ft yacht with mechanical difficulties near Cooden.

The boats launched at 7.05pm and upon arrival the decision was made to tow the yacht to the safety Sovereign harbour, Aaron Stevenson was transferred to the yacht to help with the tow. They returned to Sovereign Harbour at 7.50pm.

As the inshore lifeboat was leaving the harbour and returning to the inshore lifeboat station, they were tasked again to assist a broken down Jetski. They towed the jetski back to the beach before returning to the inshore lifeboat station.

‘When we were paged the first time we had no idea how busy this evening would be, but we are always on standby to launch to those who need our help at sea and the volunteer crew have shown that tonight,’ said Carl Pocock, Lifeboat operations manager for Eastbourne RNLI.

The all-weather boat crew on the first shout were Ian Stringer (Coxswain.) Dave Needham, Guy Emery, Trevor Moule, Andy Hyland, Alex Emberley and Alan Simister. Mick Wishman replaced Alex Emberley on the second shout and Dave Needham took over as Coxswain.

The inshore lifeboat crew were Dean Parker (Helm.) Peter Needham and Aaron Stevenson.

The weather was warm with a slight south westerly breeze.

Media Contacts:

Daniel Baldock, Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (07895) 369688 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer London London and South East (07785) 296252 [email protected]

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

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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