RNLI Wells lifeboat volunteers rescue four people cut off by the tide
At 2.41pm on Saturday 4 September, HM Coastguard tasked Wells volunteer inshore lifeboat crew to go to the assistance of four people cut off by the tide on the west side of Wells beach towards Holkham.
The Wells Inshore lifeboat Peter Wilcox launched with a crew of three at 2.54pm from outside the boathouse, and headed down the harbour channel and out to sea towards the vicinity of the stranded casualties.
The four people were cut off from the beach on a disappearing spit of sand on the incoming tide. They were visible to a local fishing vessel which was standing by offshore, monitoring the situation.
The D class lifeboat arrived on scene at 2.59pm and quickly transferred the four people, all well and without injuries, into the lifeboat and then to the safety of the main beach.
At 3.12pm, with all four people safely ashore and requiring no further assistance, the lifeboat returned to the station.
The lifeboat was ashore outside the boathouse at 3.23pm. It was then sanitised, rehoused, refuelled and back on service again at 4pm.
RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy, said ‘I am very pleased there was a positive outcome this afternoon; however, this sort of situation can be avoided. When enjoying our beach and the surrounding area, it is important that people are aware of the tide times and always return back to the beach at least four hours before high tide to prevent being cut off.’
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For more information please contact Justine Sykes, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07710 510516, email: juscsykes@gmail.com
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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 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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