RNLI Wells volunteer crew assist an unwell woman in Wells Harbour

The lady had motored up the creek in a small boat on the incoming tide with a party of people but was unable to re-board the boat when they decided to return.

The D-class lifeboat launched with a crew of three on board at 2.35pm outside the boathouse on nearly the top of the tide and proceeded towards Sluice Creek, opposite the town quay.

The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 2.40pm and established that the lady was well enough to be transferred to the lifeboat and transported to the mainland, so they left the scene at 2.42pm with the lady on board.

The lifeboat arrived at the adjacent slipway at 2.44pm and transferred the lady to the safety of the waiting local Coastguard team.

The inshore lifeboat was then rehoused in the boathouse, sanitised, refuelled, and was ready again for service at 3.15pm.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy, said ‘we were happy to be able to help the lady who was feeling unwell. The group did the right thing in calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard, as we're the quickest way of getting emergency help to people who are on the water in our coastal area.’

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 143,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

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.

About the author

For more information, please telephone Justine Sykes, RNLI Wells Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07710510516

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.