A busy end to the half-term holiday week for Walton and Frinton RNLI crew

The first call came just after 7pm on Thursday 3 June when the crew were tasked by Dover Coastguard to go to deal with a medical emergency on a yacht with four people aboard in the vicinity of Hamford Water.

Those on the yacht were unsure of their position or how to bring the yacht under control after the skipper had suffered a diabetic incident.

Once the all-weather lifeboat Irene Muriel Rees was alongside the casualty yacht, three crew members from the lifeboat boarded the vessel to gain control and provide first aid to the unconscious skipper. The other adult and two children were transferred from the yacht to the lifeboat for reassurance and care.

The yacht was then taken in tow to Titchmarsh Marina while the lifeboat crew treated the casualty before handing him over to the care of East of England Ambulance Service.

The lifeboat and her crew were back in the berth and ready for service again just before 10pm.

The second call within 24hours came at 1.25pm on Friday 4 June when they were requested by Dover Coastguard to launch to assist a seal watching boat that had run aground in Oakley Creek.

As the vessel was in very shallow water Harwich RNLI were also tasked with their smaller Atlantic 85.

Once on scene it was clear that the vessel was going to take some time to refloat and with very heavy rain and no cover available for the passengers it was decided to evacuate them onto the Walton and Frinton Lifeboat and return them to Harwich Harbour.

All 27 passengers, including several children, were transferred to the lifeboat and cared for by the crew as they returned them to Ha’penny Pier at Harwich from where their trip had begun some hours earlier.

After refuelling the lifeboat at Harwich Lifeboat Station the Walton and Frinton Lifeboat crew were back at their berth at Walton Pier just after 4pm.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please telephone Miranda Rayner, Walton and Frinton RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799691852 or [email protected]

Or Dale Steggles, Walton and Frinton RNLI Deputy Press Officer on 07540802302 or [email protected]

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.