Douglas RNLI called out to assist youths stranded on Conister Rock

Two youths who had become stranded on Conister Rock (Tower of Refuge) last night needed to be recovered by the lifeboat.

Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer, was launched under the command of volunteer coxswain Edd Christian and with just the short distance of Douglas Bay to cross was quickly on the scene of the incident.

With the two youths needing to be recovered to the lifeboat, volunteer crew members James Bettridge and Robert Radcliffe used the lifeboat’s daughter boat, an inflatable dinghy, to go ashore to collect them, returning then to collect the four members of the coastguard who were also unable to leave due to the strong current.

Once safely returned to shore, an ambulance was requested as one of the two young persons was extremely cold – both were taken to hospital to be checked over and have been reported to be fine.

Volunteer Coxswain, Edd Christian commented “The tides around Douglas Bay are quick moving and when the tide is low it can look tempting to make the walk across to see the Tower of Refuge up close, as this situation shows the tide changes so quickly and often the current is too strong for a safe return.”

Ends

Notes to editors
Caption for attached photo: Douglas all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer being prepared to launch.

Credit: Tony Radcliffe

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For more information please contact Charli Dimelow, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624 436013 or email [email protected] or Danielle Rush, Divisional Media Relations Manager (Wales and West) on 07786 668829 or 01745 585162. Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.