Sheerness RNLI lifeboats launched to three separate incidents.
The volunteer crew of both the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboats were called out to separate incidents on the 3rd and 6th August 2022
The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 2.20pm with a crew of three on Wednesday 3 August 2022 following reports to the UK Coastguard and local RNLI Lifeguards of a number of inflatables drifting off Sheerness seafront. After launching the ILB quickly located two inflatables with no persons onboard which they subsequently returned to the Boathouse and whilst there, at 2.37pm ,the lifeboat was re-tasked to another incident with reports of a number of persons cut off by the tide in the Eastchurch Gap area of the Island.
Initial reports said that two people were cut off by the tide whilst attempting to walk from Minster to Leysdown along the shoreline
Making best speed the lifeboat crew located the casualties, now three in number, at 2:55pm and swiftly put them all into the lifeboat.
All three were extremely hot and suffering the effects of the sun so were taken to Minster Leas where they were handed into the care of the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team at 3.15pm.
The ILB was released at 3.20pm, returned to moorings at 3.30pm and was ready for service again at 4.12pm.
Weather clear skies, W SW4 sea state slight, visibility good.
The crew of the all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ launched at 6.46am on Saturday 6 August after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a 38' yacht with a 72yr old man onboard who was on passage from Plymouth and now located out by the Red Sands Towers from where he had put out a Mayday call, reporting that he was aground/snagged and also had an engine problem.
The ALB located the casualty at 7.30am and two crew members were put onboard where they were able to get the vessel safely afloat and managed to get the engine started.
The two crew members then took control of the vessel and motored it, and it’s very relieved ‘skipper’ to the Queenborough all-tide landing with the ALB escorting where it was secured at 10.40am.
The lifeboat was back on her moorings and ready for service at 11.00am
Wind NW1, calm seas and good visibility
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.
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