First shout as helm for 21 year old Fowey RNLI lifeboat volunteer
Lifeboats Statement
On Sunday May 22nd Fowey RNLI volunteer Amelia Luck went out on her first shout as the lifeboat helm when the Fowey inshore lifeboat was launched at 12.35pm. TOGGLE SHARE OPTIONS
The 21 year old helm and her crew were responding to a call from the Coastguard, to assist a 16 foot motor boat that had drifted onto Par harbour wall following engine failure.
It was a busy morning in Fowey Harbour when the call for help came in, as the annual Fowey River Championship sailing races were taking place at the time. Helm Amelia had to navigate around the racing boats and out of the harbour, and the lifeboat arrived on the scene in Par docks at 12.50pm.
There was one man onboard the drifting vessel, Brian McCaskie, who had used his VHF to call the coastguard for help. In addition to the main engine failing, his auxilliary engine also failed, causing the boat to drift onto the harbour wall on the west side of the entrance, as the tide was going out. Amelia and her crew, brother Oli Luck and Luke Watts set up a tow line and the lifeboat returned the vessel and owner safely to the docks so that the boat could be recovered on his trailer.
Brian said;
‘The RNLI volunteers who came out to help me when both engines on my boat failed were fantastic, so friendly and while it was an unfortunate situation, weren’t judgemental in anyway. I can’t thank them enough, I’ve been a member for many years and my family connection to the RNLI goes back many years, I use the water a lot and it’s great to know they are there.’
RNLI lifeboat volunteer helm, Amelia Luck said: 'It was a great first shout for me and it was ideal to have two crew who I have previously trained with onboard. They both know how I like the boat to be set up so it all ran very smoothly. I’ve done lots of training with Luke, and of course, Oli and I work well in a team! A good outcome all round.'
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
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.
