Happisburgh RNLI volunteers called out in heat of the day
HM Coastguard Humber paged Happisburgh RNLI and Mundesley Independent Lifeboat at 4:20pm on Friday 17 June.
Two people on paddle boards were being blown offshore by the wind, north of Bacton by Bacton Gas site approx 0.5 miles off the beach.
Happisburgh’s Howard Bell Atlantic 85 was launched and en route to the casualties by 4:30pm, with Sean Thurston on helm and Kieran Greaver, Matt Haystead and Tom Hunn as crew.
After a short search, the casualties were found one mile off the beach. Mundesley quickly took the casualties on board and returned them to the beach and handed them over to Bacton Coastguard; neither were injured, just exhausted. Howard Bell was tasked to bring the two paddle boards back to the beach.
Howard bell was rehoused, cleaned and refuelled and ready for service by 5:10pm.
This was a great example of RNLI and independent lifeboats working closely together alongside local Coastguards to bring this incident to a successful conclusion.
Sean Thurston said: ‘Thank you to all who attended this afternoon’s shout, all went well. Quick launch and all good, such a great performance again from all involved.'
Safety Advice for Paddle Boarding
• Always wear your leash and hold onto your board if you get into trouble. It will help you float.
• Always carry a means of calling for help on your person. You must be able to reach it easily in an emergency. If it can’t be reached, it’s no help. Consider taking a mobile phone with the SafeTrx app.
• Always try to choose a lifeguarded beach and make sure you launch and recover between the black and white chequered flags.
• Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back. They can raise the alarm with the coastguard by calling 999 or 112 if you are overdue.
• Always check the weather forecast and tide times. Don’t get caught out by the conditions. Avoid offshore winds because they will tire you quickly when trying to return to shore
• Always wear a personal flotation device. Make sure you are also wearing suitable clothing for the forecasted conditions.
• Always try to paddle with someone else. They can raise the alarm in an emergency by calling 999 or 112 and asking for the Coastguard.RNLI Media contacts
Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer Philip Smith:
Mobile: 07766007936, email: [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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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.