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Cliff rescue call for Arbroath RNLI

Lifeguards News Release

The Arbroath RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats were called into action last night (23 January) to support our colleagues at HM Coastguard - Angus & Dundee with a tricky cliff rescue.

Arbroath RNLI

On board RNLB Inchcape
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The casualty had become crag fast in a precarious position near the top of a cliff at Dickmont's Den, and was thought to have been holding on for nearly two hours in dark, cold and windy conditions.

HM Coastguard helicopter ‘Rescue 151’ had been tasked, however, it was feared their down draft may have dislodged the casualty. Meanwhile rope rescue technicians, also from HM Coastguard, had been setting up and preparing to deploy over the cliff edge.
With the volunteer RNLI crews and Rescue 151 providing additional light to the scene, the Coastguard team committed a technician over the cliff edge and successfully secured the casualty before extracting them to safe ground at the cliff top.

The casualty was then transferred into the care of the paramedics before being taken by land ambulance to hospital as a precaution.

Arbroath RNLI Coxswain/Mechanic, Sam Clow, said "With our own RNLI crews working alongside Tayside Police Division, NHS Tayside, Rescue 151 and Coastguard units from Arbroath, Dundee, Montrose and Stonehaven - this was a fantastic rescue effort by all involved, in particular our local mobile Coastguard teams."

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.

About the authors

Rod McLean
Lifeboat Press Officer, Arbroath Lifeboat Station
Sam Clow

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