Clacton RNLI Atlantic 85 launched to aid person in water
Just after 1.20pm on Saturday 24 July, as Clacton Lifeboat station were in mid-preparation for the official naming ceremony of their new ILB (inshore lifeboat), a call came of a person in distress near the Sailor Boy café, Holland-on-Sea.
In overcast weather conditions and moderate seas, the volunteer crew, most of which were already at the lifeboat station quickly launched the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and headed to the reported location, just west of Clacton pier.
Upon arriving at the position, the crew found that the casualty had already been recovered to the beach with the aid of a bystander. The crew concerned for the casualty, requested that they attend the beach and perform a welfare check and monitor the casualty. Two medically trained crew members disembarked the lifeboat and attended to the casualty on the beach.
The casualty was found to be cold and tired. They also kept being sick, a potential sign that the casualty had swallowed a great deal of sea water. The crew continued to monitor and keep the casualty alert and warm, whilst waiting for the arrival of the East of England ambulance service. During this time, the bystander who had assisted the recovery was checked and found to be okay.
Once the ambulance team arrived on scene, the casualty was passed to their care for further assessment and treatment.
Before recovering the two crew members from the shoreline, the remaining crew noticed something unusual on the horizon so went to investigate around a quarter of a mile offshore, where they found and recovered two inflatables, that had been swept out into the sea.
RNLI spokesperson, Mark Walsham, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, commented: 'Thankfully the swift actions of our crew were able to help the casualty once assisted to the shore by a member of the public and provided treatment and assessment as to their condition. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.
'The crew in locating inflatables so far off our shoreline demonstrates how easy it is for these toys to be swept into deeper and dangerous waters off our coast. Everyone is urged to closely supervise people using these inflatables and to not go into the seas to retrieve if they do get swept away, as this can often lead to people getting into trouble.
'Should you see or know of anyone experiencing any difficulties, such as being swept offshore on an inflatable, please call 999 and ask for the coastguard, who will be able to assist.'
The lifeboat crew were then stood down returning to the lifeboat station where the lifeboat was cleaned, re-fuelled and checked before going back into service by 2.20pm.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Mark Walsham, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]
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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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