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A Stirling first shout for new Poole RNLI helm

Lifeboats News Release

Poole Lifeboat was requested to launch by UK Coastguard just before 9pm (Thursday August 26) to a report of a small dinghy with two people on-board that had broken down in the back of the harbour near to Goathorn Point.

RNLI/Poole

Poole D class assisting the vessel
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This was the first shout for newly qualified D class helm Stirling Taylor.

The D class made its way across Wills Cut through the harbour then west of the islands, to locate the stricken vessel.

Conditions were clear, there was a north easterly breeze, and it was pitch black, the volunteer crew using their torches and navigation located the casualty, who was 100 metres West of Goatshorn.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew checked that the occupants were okay, a welfare check as they had got stuck, trying to restart the engine and had no means of propulsion.

One crew member was transferred across, and with luck, he managed to restart the engine, the lifeboat then escorted the vessel back as they did not have any navigation lights and they may have incurred engine failure again, they made their way to where they had launched from earlier at Lake Road slipway.

Once all safe, the lifeboat returned to station, just as the weekly fireworks were illuminating the night sky at Poole Quay, so the crew lingered a bit longer between the quays to enjoy them.

The lifeboat was washed down and refuelled and made ready for service by 10.30pm.
Congratulations to Stirling who passed out as Helm on Tuesday evening and celebrated completing his ‘maiden voyage’ as Helm tonight with fireworks, well done Stirling!

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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

Anne-Marie Clark
Lifeboat Press Officer, Poole Lifeboat Station

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