Flint RNLI swap New Year celebrations for river search
Instead of welcoming the New Year with their families, Flint RNLI volunteer crew were undertaking a search as the clocks struck midnight.
Flint RNLI was tasked by UK Coastguard at 11.03 pm Friday 31 December along with Flint Coastguard Team to search the River Dee after reports of red flares in the Connah's Quay area.
The inshore lifeboat launched at Connah's Quays Dock and immediately began searching the area between Flint and the Blue Bridge, Queensferry.
On completion of the search, the lifeboat was diverted to assist North Wales Police and Flint Coastguard in retrieving a bag found during their shoreline search. Due to the low tide, the bag was not accessible, and the lifeboat was stood down and made ready for further service at 2:00am.
At 8am Saturday 1 January, UK Coastguard tasked Flint RNLI to assist with retrieving the bag found earlier that morning. With the higher tide, the volunteer crew was able to retrieve the bag and pass it over to Flint Coastguard Team. UK Coastguard updated and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.
Brian Dobson, Flint RNLI Helm says:
'Our volunteers remain on call 365 days a year ready to drop everything to respond to incidents along the coast. Our crew missed out on welcoming the New Year with their friends and families however, we are thankful that on this occasion nobody was in distress.'
Notes to editors
Flint RNLI lifeboat station was established in 1966. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/flint
Since 1966 Flint Lifeboat has launched over 700 times, saved 103 lives, and rescued a further 148 people.
RNLI media contacts
For more information contact Carly McCarthy and Aby Norwood Flint RNLI volunteer press officers, on [email protected] or [email protected]. Alternatively contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07771 941390 or RNLI Press Office 01202 336789.
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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 142,700 lives.
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.