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Douglas RNLI called out to a boat on fire

Lifeboats News Release

Douglas RNLI all weather lifeboat was launched today (17 July) at 4.55pm at the request of the Coastguard.

Casualty vessel with Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer standing by

RNLI/Michael Howland

Casualty vessel with Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer standing by
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The Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer, was launched under the command of volunteer coxswain, Peter Cowin, heading for a leisure craft in Douglas Bay just off Onchan Head which had caught fire.

On arrival it was quickly established that the one person who had been on board had immediately abandoned the burning vessel without injury and had been picked up by a yacht which had been close by.

The lifeboat then stood by until the fire had burned itself out and what remained of the vessel had eventually sunk reporting its position to Belfast Coastguard before returning to harbour to be recovered to the boathouse and was made ready again for service by 6.50pm.

On what was his first call out since qualifying as a coxswain, Peter Cowin said 'As coxswain I felt for the owner of the boat, it broke my heart watching it burn. We are not a fire fighting unit, our role is to save lives at sea. The heat was incredible, there was fuel, flares and possibly gas onboard which could put the crew in unnecessary danger.'

Notes to editors
Caption for attached photo: Casualty vessel with Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer standing by.
Credit: RNLI/Michael Howland

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Michael Howland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624 496029 or email [email protected] or Danielle Rush, Divisional Media Relations Manager (Wales and West) on 07786 668829 or 01745 585162. Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

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

Mike Howland
Lifeboat Press Officer, Douglas Lifeboat Station

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