St Bees RNLI called to windsurfers
Just before 2:40pm on Thursday 10 March the volunteers at St Bees RNLI were requested by Belfast Coastguard to assist two windsurfers reported to be in difficulties about five miles south of the lifeboat station.
St Bees volunteers launched their lifeboat Joy Morris MBE on Thursday afternoon after a member of the public had reported seeing what looked like two windsurfers struggling just off the beach near Nethertown. The lifeboat crew made their way to where the two had last been seen and began a search of the area. The two winsurfers were found making their way up the coast. As soon as the lifeboat crew had confirmed they were both ok and not in need of assistance they left them to enjoy the rest of their day and returned to the station.
Dick Beddows, St Bees RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said ‘This was a false alarm with good intent. We would like to thank the member of the public who did the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard’.
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
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