Swanage and Weymouth lifeboats tasked to fire aboard a fishing boat

Swanage lifeboat launched and was quickly en-route to the stricken vessel. Conditions were calm so the lifeboat was able to stay at full speed arriving on scene just over an hour after launching.

On scene the French helicopter had already put a couple of fire fighters aboard who were assessing the vessel.

Communications were difficult as the casualty vessel and the helicopter were talking in French. During our attendance the French firefighters were lifted off the fishing boat and it started to make slow speed towards France.

A short time later an update was received from the UK Coastguard requesting that Swanage and Weymouth lifeboats stay with the casualty vessel until the French lifeboat arrived. Twenty minutes later the French lifeboat arrived on scene and took over the slow excort of the vessel. With the situation resolved both Swanage & Weymouth lifeboats were released to return to their stations.

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Dave Turnbull, Robert Aggas, Tom Greasty, Gavin Steeden, Matthew Steeden, Sam Aggas
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Andy Redout, Ben Clarke, Martha Tavinor, Nigel Bower

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For more information please telephone Becky Mack, Swanage RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07812 558487 or at [email protected]

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