Double callout for Margate’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers
Margate’s two RNLI lifeboats have responded to two calls at around the same time in what has been a busy weekend for the volunteer crew.
UK Coastguard was contacted by a 36ft yacht with one person on board around 4pm today (Sunday 12 June) reporting they had hit a submerged object around a mile off Birchington-on-Sea, it was established the craft had run aground on an isolated sandbank to the east of the Hook Sands.
Margate’s D class inshore lifeboat was tasked to assist but soon after launching was diverted to check on a jet-ski which was indicating signs of distress off the lifeboat station. The B class lifeboat was launched to assist the original casualty and after the D class had established that all was well with the jet-ski also continued with the original tasking.
The yacht had run aground close to low water and once on scene the lifeboat crew checked on the welfare of the occupant who was safe and well. After assessing the situation, it was agreed that the B class lifeboat would put a line aboard the yacht and assist it to refloat on the rising tide. The craft was subsequently refloated and after checking that it had not sustained any damage was escorted until off Margate whereupon it continued its passage to Ramsgate. The lifeboats returned to station.
Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Margate RNLI said: “The fine weather has led to a busy period for our volunteers including attending two yachts aground within a few days on offshore sandbanks which are to be found in the Thames Estuary. Seafarers should always notify the coastguard in such circumstances and of course if anyone sees anything at all untoward from shoreside dial 999 and ask for coastguard.”
Notes to editors
· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]
· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]
· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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