RNLI Rye Harbour respond to their first shout of 2022
On Tuesday 4 January at 1.30pm the pagers went off at Rye Harbour.
A speedboat had run agound in the River Rother with three persons on board. Stuart Clark, helm, reported, ‘With a rapidly ebbing tide the boat was high and dry on the riverbank by the time we arrived. The casualties were fit and well and in good spirits, so we decided to tow the boat off the mud into the river rather than wait for the next tide to re-float the speedboat.They were very grateful for their rescue and have offered a donation to fund the work we do in Saving lives at Sea.’
The plan was carried out successfully and once the casualty vessel was afloat the speedboat was able to make its own way back to the mooring at Strand Quay.
Stuart commented, ‘It was a great effort from both shore and boat crew today and good to have so many turn out so quickly.’
It was not only the first deployment for the station this year but John Hornig, (trainee shore crew) and Steve Spooner DLA, (Deputy Launching Authority) experienced their first shout, too.
It takes a team of people to launch the boat and it is inspiring to see how the volunteers all pull together, working together to achieve a successful outcome.
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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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.