Margate RNLI responds to two reports of people cut off by the tide

UK Coastguard received a report around 2pm today (Saturday 1 May) of three people cut off by the tide at Kingsgate. The inshore lifeboat was tasked to investigate along with Margate Coastguard Rescue Team.

Once on scene the lifeboat quickly located three adults who were isolated in a secluded bay. After checking on their welfare they were embarked onto the lifeboat and landed in Kingsgate Bay into the care of coastguard officers.

While the lifeboat was returning to station UK Coastguard received a further report of possibly ten people cut off by the tide at Stone Bay, Broadstairs. As the lifeboat was close to the location it was diverted to investigate along with the coastguard team. Upon arrival at Stone Bay the lifeboat crew established that the group (four adults and a dog) had been cut off but had made their way through the water and around the headland into the safety of the bay itself. They were met again by coastguard officers who confirmed they were all safe and well and accounted for. Coastguards along with the lifeboat crew provided safety advice to the group after which all units were released and returned to station.

Christian Wright, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: ‘We have issued tide times and safety advice on our facebook page during this period of high spring tides coinciding with a bank holiday weekend and we urge people not to attempt to return to a safe location by wading through water which can hide deep gullies. They should remain in the area and attempt to raise the alarm by mobile phone or attracting the attention of people on the clifftop.’

Please note that following the change of lifeboat allocation at Margate the term ‘Margate lifeboat’ refers to the 8.5m B-class lifeboat while ‘inshore lifeboat’ refers to the smaller 5m D-class lifeboat.

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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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