Busy Easter Weekend for Queensferry RNLI
It was four ‘shouts’ in four days for our volunteer crew this busy Easter weekend, rounded up by a fifth 'shout' on Tuesday.
Queensferry RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross was first requested to launch by UK Coastguard at 12.28pm on Good Friday (15 April 2022) to three people stranded by the tide on Cramond Island.
The volunteer crew assisted the three people from the island onto the lifeboat and took them to Cramond Village where they were passed into the care of waiting UK Coastguard personnel.
The lifeboat then returned to station to be recovered, refuelled, washed and made ready for the next service, with the volunteer crew returning to their day.
Within an hour of leaving the station, the volunteer crew were paged again at 3.59pm to rescue a dog at Gypsy Brae. Details of this incident and footage can be viewed at; https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/20/queensferry-rnli-rescues-dog-from-rocky-breakwater-at-gypsy-brae
On Easter Sunday (17 April) the pagers sounded at 4.14pm with UK Coastguard requesting the lifeboat launch to the aid of a kite surfer believed to be in difficulty in the Cramond area. The charity’s lifeboat, with 3 crew members on board, was on the water within 10 minutes of the request and made best speed to the area.
Once on scene the volunteer crew carried out a search of the area and liaised with a local safety boat, which had also responded to the call for assistance, with no one found to be in difficulty. An update followed from UK Coastguard that a kite surfer had managed to make their way safely to shore and therefore the lifeboat was stood down.
The lifeboat and crew made their way back to Hawes Pier to be recovered, refuelled, washed and made ready for service
It was an urgent and very speedy launch on Monday afternoon (18 April) when numerous 999 calls were made to UK Coastguard regarding what looked to be an upturned vessel spotted in the Granton area.
The lifeboat and crew made best speed arriving on scene within eight minutes and quickly spotting the item. Once the lifeboat got closer the item was identified as a partially inflated paddling pool. The crew recovered it to the lifeboat to save any further causes for concern or risk to any other vessels. This was a false alarm with good intent.
Once again the lifeboat and crew returned to station to do the necessary and make the lifeboat ready.
On Tuesday 19 April the pagers sounded for a fifth time within five days and the lifeboat launched around 3.20pm to 2 people stranded by the tide on Cramond Island. The people were taken by the lifeboat into Cramond Village to waiting UK Coastguard personnel.
Jimmie Cairncross returned to Hawes Pier, was recovered and made ready for service and the crew were able to return home in time for dinner.
Lauchie, Queensferry RNLI Helm, said: ‘Easter weekend was a particularly busy weekend for us, especially as the weather was favourable.
‘A number of the incidents we responded to were urgent, potential threat to life situations and our volunteer crew worked exceptionally hard to launch in very short times. Thankfully all incidents were resolved, with no serious casualties.
‘Several of these taskings were as a result of bystanders calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard. These people did absolutely the right thing when believing people to be in danger.
‘We advise people visiting the coast or going out on the water to carry a means of communicating for help, to check local weather conditions and tide times, wear appropriate clothing and/or safety equipment and tell someone where you are going and intended return time.
‘The RNLI always advises anyone who requires assistance, or who sees someone else in trouble, to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. They will then alert the appropriate RNLI lifeboat.’
ENDS
Photo credit
The attached photo shows Queensferry RNLI lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross launching on service on Tuesday afternoon (19 April). Credit RNLI/Queensferry Lifeboat Station.
Notes to editor
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
Queensferry RNLI is based at Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, EH30 9TB. The lifeboat station was founded in 1967 and the volunteer crew use an inshore Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross.
In 2022, Queensferry RNLI have attended 25 incidents and rescued 47 people.
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact:
Adele Allan, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Queensferry RNLI by email [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), on 07920 365929 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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.