Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI receive early morning tasking from HM Coastguard
There was no time for breakfast on Sunday 24 April for the volunteers of Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI when at 8am they were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a 24’ sailing boat that had run aground off Foulness Point with two people onboard.
The Atlantic Class lifeboat Tony & Robert Britt was launched and proceeded to the scene of the grounding. Upon arrival and following an assessment of the situation, it was established that the casualty vessel had run aground prior to high tide and had been pushed further aground by the strong wind.
Two volunteer crew members from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI alighted from the lifeboat into the shallows to make a further assessment and following discussion it was decided the best course of action was to leave the casualty where she lay and for her owners to arrange a commercial salvage.
The two people from the casualty vessel were then taken aboard Tony & Robert Britt back to the lifeboat station where they arrived shortly before 12 Noon.
Then at 5.50pm they were again tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a 14m yacht aground on the sands in the vicinity of Buxey No 2 with two people onboard, where unfortunately the casualty vessels autohelm had failed and steered them aground.
The Atlantic Class lifeboat Tony & Robert Britt was again called into action and proceeded to scene.
With an hour to high water the casualty had managed to re-float themselves and make their way off of the sands, but not before the wind and swell bounced them around on their keel until they were finally clear.
HM Coastguard updated the lifeboat with the information that the vessel had re-floated but requested the volunteers from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI to still attend to check over the casualties as they seemed quite shaken.
Upon locating the casualty vessel, the lifeboat came alongside and checked on their welfare. The casualties assured the RNLI volunteer crew that they were fine and required no further assistance.
The lifeboat crew asked them to check their vessel for damage whilst the lifeboat was alongside, after a thorough check, damage was located where the keel meets the hull. At that time there was no water ingress, but to further check the casualties, further assess the damage and provide effective comms, a volunteer crew member from Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI was placed onboard the casualty vessel after which the volunteer crew member periodically checked the damage where thankfully, no water had came through.
The lifeboat escorted the casualty back to Burnham Yacht Harbour.
Once safely back in their berth the lifeboat picked up their crew member and returned to station and made ready for the next service.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please e-mail Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer:
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.