A busy period for Poole Lifeboat volunteers

Poole lifeboats were launched today just before noon, (Thursday March 31) by UK Coastguard to a report of a 28ft Yacht with one person on-board somewhere in the harbour. Both boats were tasked as the casualty on board was uncertain of his position and the conditions in the harbour were extremely cold with gusting north easterly winds and fresh squalls.

The lifeboats located the casualty just off the entrance of the river Frome, aground, the volunteer crew checked that he was okay, the vessel was just on the edge of the channel.

A crew member was transferred across and a tow line was attached, the lifeboat gently towed the yacht into deeper water. The yacht was checked for any ingress of water in the bilges the propeller and engine were checked and when the skipper was happy the lifeboats escorted the vessel to his mooring of Hamworthy park, as they approached the mooring another crew member was transferred across to help pick up and attached the mooring.

When all was safe and well, the lifeboat crew returned to station, after washing down the lifeboats were ready for service by 1.30pm.

The Atlantic lifeboat was re-tasked again later in the evening at 6.20pm, to two different incidents of persons in the water, once on scene to both calls, the lifeboats were stood down, thankfully each person was safe and accounted for.

The lifeboat stayed out on exercise as was planned before the tasking and returned to station later but not for long.

The following day, Poole Lifeboat was launched by UK Coastguard at 4.40pm (Friday April 1) to a report of a 30ft yacht with three people on board, the yacht had encountered engine failure and was in the vicinity of the training bank, two of the three people on board were feeling ill.

The Lifeboat was soon on scene, two crew were transferred across, they checked the people were okay and assessed the situation, the lifeboat crew determined that to remove the yacht from the main channel and get the casualties to safety, the lifeboat would need to take the stricken yacht under tow.

Conditions were fresh with a cold north easterly wind force 5.

The lifeboat took the yacht to a mooring off Poole yacht club where the lifeboat and casualties were met by the clubs’ launch, once secured to a mooring and all safe and the lifeboat returned to station. After refuelling and wash down the lifeboat was ready for service by 7pm.

Then the busy period continued when Poole Lifeboat was launched by UK Coastguard just after 2.30pm (Saturday April 2) to a report of two swimmers off Branksome Dene, in distress and appeared to be waving for help.

The lifeboat was swiftly away and made good speed, conditions were fresh in the harbour with a cold biting breeze.

As the lifeboat was on route, news came through over the radio that the ‘swimmers’ were safe and ashore, they were divers who were okay and not in difficulty.

The lifeboat was stood down and returned to station with thanks. Today’s launch was a false alarm, however the people who initially raised the alarm did it with good intent, it’s always best to be safe than sorry, as the time the alarm is not raised maybe is the time that the lifeboats or emergency services are really needed.

After refuelling and wash down the lifeboat was ready for service by 3.15pm.

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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