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Exmouth RNLI assists in recovery of broken down vessel

Lifeboats News Release

Exmouth RNLI lifesavers were tasked this evening to assist Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat to a broken down motor boat off the Exmouth coast.

RNLI/Nick Wright

Exmouth inshore lifeboat crew towing the broken down boat.

At 5.25pm on Sunday 7 August 2022, H.M. Coastguard requested the crew of Exmouth inshore lifeboat D-805 George Bearman II to assist Exmouth Independent Arctic 24 Lifeboat Peter & Barbara Truesdale with a broken down 21ft motor boat off Orcombe Point. The motor boat had 9 persons on board including 5 children.

The volunteer crew launched at 5.37pm and were quickly on scene with their Sidmouth lifesaving colleagues who had the vessel under tow. At 5.43pm the tow was handed to the Exmouth lifeboat and the vessel towed to the safety of shore.

On completion the lifesavers were stood down and returned to Exmouth Lifeboat Station where the inshore lifeboat was back on service a short time later.

Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat volunteers were :

Boat Crew: Helm : Si Priestley, Guy Bennett, Ed Birch, Cameron Baker. Tractor Driver: Paul May

Deputy Launch Authority : Andy Mitchell. Shore Crew: Ian Fletcher, Jim Brewster, Kyle Baker, Toby Hoggarth, Mark Davies, Andy Horsley, Brian Taylor

Exmouth RNLI crew who took part in the tasking were :

Inshore Lifeboat : Helm : Harry Griffin, Nick Wright and Geoff Mills.

Other volunteers involved were Deputy Launch Authority, Rick Newcombe. Tractor Driver : Robert Thompson. Head Launcher : Scott Ranft and Shore Crew, Steve Woodbridge.

Specific advice from the RNLI regarding yacht sailing and motorboating can be found here : https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/yacht-sailing-and-motorboating

If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble, you should always call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. When you take a craft to sea, always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Always wear a lifejacket and take a means of calling for help.

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 142,700 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.

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