Two calls outs for the Lymington crew in 24 hours.
On 4 April at 5.35pm, whilst the crew was preparing for the weekly training session, Lymington lifeboat launched on service to a paddleboarder in difficulty.
They had been caught out by the ebbing tide in Hawkers Lake, near Keyhaven. The person had managed to get aboard a moored motor boat and called HM Coastguard for help by using a mobile phone.
The lifeboat arrived on scene and quickly spotted the paddleboarder using binoculars. The lifeboat carefully made its way into Hawkers where the water was very shallow due to low tide. They went alongside the motor boat and transferred casualty and the board onto the lifeboat. The lifeboat quickly departed whilst there was still sufficient water to safely navigate, due to the ebbing tide. The casualty was taken to Lymington and into the care of shore crew waiting on the HM pontoon.
This was Gunnar’s first shout at Lymington, since transferring from the Teddington RNLI station.
The lifeboat was prepared ready for service again and continued with the evenings towing training exercise on the water.
On the following day (5 April) at 1.41pm the pagers sounded again and the lifeboat launched on service by HM Coastguard to reports of two people cut off by the tide near Bouldnor Bay.
On arrival the lifeboat conducted a shoreline search from Bouldnor Forest eastwards until the helm (Phil Baker) spotted the casualties waving. One engine was lifted due to shallow water and the lifeboat cautiously approached the shoreline. Three crew members jumped out to steady the boat and help the casualties aboard. The casualties were unharmed and were taken to Yarmouth Harbour.
The lifeboat returned to the station and was prepared and ready for service again at 3.05pm.
Suzanne Brown, Lifeboat Press Officer, Lymington Lifeboat Station (07711) 393910 [email protected]
Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, SE and London (07785) 296252 [email protected]
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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 142,700 lives.
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