Wells inshore lifeboat search for missing child by Brancaster Golf Club

The inshore lifeboat left the boathouse at 6.18pm by carriage for the low water launch site at Holkham Bay. At 6.33pm the inshore lifeboat was launched in Holkham Bay and proceeded towards Brancaster.

The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 6.42pm off Scolt Head Island and began searching the shoreline west towards Brancaster harbour and beach.

At 6.53pm, a child fitting the description was seen on the beach at Scolt Head Island, a member of the volunteer inshore crew was put ashore to speak with the child. On speaking with the child it was ascertained that he was likely to be the missing person.

The volunteer crew member struck up a good rapport with the child and was able to walk him back along the beach towards Brancaster harbour. The inshore lifeboat followed keeping visual and radio contact. At 7.15pm the crew member and the child reached the water's edge but due to the flooding tide the channel between Scotts Head Island and Brancaster beach had become impassable on foot.

At 7.19pm it became necessary due to the child having difficulty understanding the situation to collect the child's father from Brancaster beach and transport him across the channel to help assist the inshore lifeboat crew getting the child into the lifeboat.

With the help of the father at 7.38pm the child was taken onto the inshore lifeboat and returned to Brancaster beach to his awaiting mother.

By 7.47 he was safely ashore with his parents and the Coastguard team. At 7.52pm the inshore lifeboat left the scene and returned to the lifeboat station. The lifeboat was brought ashore at 8.26pm sanitised, rehoused and refuelled ready for service at again at 8.50pm

The crew member who was put ashore did an excellent job in calming the child and getting him to walk back along the beach.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Jessica Curtis, Wells RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07860200790 or [email protected]

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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