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Volunteers at Walton & Frinton RNLI called out on Easter Sunday

Lifeboats News Release

Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers had an interrupted Bank Holiday weekend when they assisted a couple on a yacht.

UK Coastguard requested the volunteer RNLI crew from Walton & Frinton to launch shortly after 10pm on Sunday 17 April, having received a call for assistance from two people on a 11metre yacht drifting off The Naze at Walton.

The crew of the Tamar class lifeboat Irene Muriel Rees took only a short time to reach the casualty as the vessel was within sight of the lifeboat berth at Walton Pier.

Once on scene it became apparent that the yacht's engine had lost drive and, with insufficient wind to be able to sail against the tide, the yacht was being pushed south and away from safe harbour.

Having established that the vessel was bound for nearby Shotley Marina, the lifeboat crew set about assisting the two people and their craft through Harwich Harbour and Shotley lock to a safe berth.

The volunteers then returned to Walton Pier, returning home after 1am on bank holiday Monday.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please telephone Miranda Rayner, Walton and Frinton RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799691852 or [email protected]


Port aspect of Tamar class lifeboat 16-19 Irene Muriel Rees at sea.

RNLI/Brian Hosford

Library photo of Tamar class lifeboat Irene Muriel Rees
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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.

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.

About the author

Miranda Rayner
Lifeboat Press Officer, Walton & Frinton Lifeboat Station

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