Margate RNLI investigates report of drifting kayak
Margate RNLI’s inshore lifeboat has investigated a report of a drifting kayak east of Margate.
UK Coastguard received a call from a yacht anchored off Margate around 6pm today (Sunday 26 June) reporting sighting of a kayak with two occupants on board in difficulties east of Margate.
Margate RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat was tasked to investigate, Margate Coastguard Rescue Team also proceeded to establish visual contact from high ground ashore. After searching downwind and downtide the lifeboat located a kayak answering the description with two occupants off Foreness Bay east of Margate; the kayak was making passage between Margate and Joss Bay and not in any need of assistance.
The lifeboat continued its search back towards Margate and after checking with the first informant vessel it was considered the kayak located by the lifeboat was in fact the craft in question and the search was called off, the lifeboat returning to station.
Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Margate RNLI said: “We thank the occupants of the yacht for calling this in, if in doubt contacting the coastguard is the correct thing to do. We would rather investigate a false alarm than assume it is such but leading to problems later.”
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
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