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Red flare sighting sparks late night search by Hoylake RNLI and Coastguard

Red flare sighting sparks late night search by Hoylake RNLI and Coastguard

Lifeboats News Release

Monday 1 March 2021

Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 9.55pm on Sunday 28 February when a River Mersey pilot vessel reported seeing a red flare off New Brighton.

Hoylake RNLI volunteers used the lifeboat's searchlights to look for possible casualties in the water

Red flares, either fired as a rocket or held in the hand, are widely used as a maritime distress signal.

Hoylake’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and her volunteer crew launched and immediately began following a search pattern along the north Wirral coast heading towards New Brighton. The RNLI crew used the lifeboat’s radar and searchlights to look for any potential vessels or people in distress, while local Coastguard Rescue Teams searched along the shoreline.

When Hoylake RNLI lifeboat completed the first leg of its search, the crew liaised with the pilot vessel that had reported the flare to establish any further information about the potential casualty. The lifeboat then headed back to the west, expanding the search further out into Leasowe Bay.

The RNLI crew investigated a number of possible targets detected by its radar and after completing several legs of the search with no casualties located by the lifeboat or Coastguard teams, the UK Coastguard Operations Centre concluded that the flare sighting was a false alarm with good intent.

Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was stood down and returned to station to be washed down, refuelled and made ready for service again by the volunteer lifeboat and shore crews just after 2.00am.

Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Andy Dodd said: ‘Our volunteer lifeboat crew carried out an extensive search at sea last night based on the initial reports of the flare sighting. The search was helped by the calm sea conditions and a full moon.’

‘On this occasion it appears to have been a false alarm, but we encourage anyone who believes they’ve seen a red flare to report it to the Coastguard immediately by dialling 999 or on VHF Channel 16.’

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]

Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07771 941 390 or email [email protected]

RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

Hoylake RNLI's Shannon class lifeboat was requested to launch at 9.55pm on Sunday 28 February (library photo)

Hoylake RNLI lifeboat followed a search pattern along the north Wirral coast out into Leasowe Bay

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.

Daniel Whiteley

Lifeboat Press Officer, Hoylake Lifeboat Station

Red flare sighting sparks late night search by Hoylake RNLI and Coastguard

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