Busy 17-hours for Whitstable RNLI
Whitstable lifeboat station has had two calls in the last 17 hours or so, firstly on Tuesday afternoon to a false alarm with good intent and then on Wednesday morning to a windsurfer.
However just after launching Dover Coastguard reported that the male was fishing in wading gear and the lifeboat was 'stood down' and returned to station.
On Wednesday morning the lifeboat was launched following a report of a windsurfer with a damaged sail 3/4-mile north west of the lifeboat station.
The lifeboat arrived at the scene and the male windsurfer and his gear brought onboard the lifeboat and landed ashore at the boathouse.
Weather conditions at the time of Wednesday morning's call were south westerly 3-4 winds.
There have now been 44 calls for Whitstable's volunteer lifeboat crews so far this year.
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
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