Fifth call out in twelve days for RNLI Wells volunteer lifeboat crew
Wells inshore lifeboat was paged by HM Coastguard at 2.37pm on 4 November, to assist two people and their dog who had got into the difficulties whilst walking on Wells Beach. They dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard when they found themselves cut off by the incoming tide in the stormy weather.
The Wells inshore lifeboat, Peter Wilcox, launched at 2.44pm outside the boathouse with a volunteer crew of three, and proceeded out of the harbour toward the West side of Wells beach. The weather conditions were far from ideal, with squalls of driving rain from the North and the wind gusting force 6 to 7 at times.
The stranded people could be seen from the lifeboat station, and at the time of launching the lifeboat, they were already up to their knees in the tide flooding across the sand. With breaking seas to windward, the inshore lifeboat was able to reach them by accessing calmer waters in a drain to the south, arriving on scene at 2.51pm.
By this time the water was already at waist height and the two people and the dog were quickly recovered onto the inshore lifeboat. At 2.54pm, having ascertained that other than being very cold and wet, the party was well, the lifeboat set course for the boathouse.
The lifeboat returned safely to the boathouse at 3pm where the party was met by the local Coastguard team before being taken into the boathouse to get warm and dry.
The inshore lifeboat was sanitised, rehoused, refuelled and back on service again at 3.10pm.
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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