Two shouts for Scarborough and Whitby RNLI
Scarborough and Whitby RNLI, along with the coastguards’ search and rescue helicopter, had two shouts last night (Tuesday 15 / Wednesday 16 March).
At about 8.45pm, Scarborough RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was asked to help when a member of crew on a fishing boat fell ill, 7.4 nautical miles north-east of Ravenscar.
The coastguards’ helicopter dropped a paramedic onto the boat to help the casualty, who needed hospital treatment.
As the nearest hospital was in Scarborough, the 17m, 30-ton scalloper sailed south and was escorted by Whitby lifeboat as far as Hayburn Wyke.
Scarborough’s inshore lifeboat launched to provide cover in case the fishing boat couldn’t enter the harbour, as the tide was out. But there was enough water and the fishing boat could safely land the casualty. If the vessel had been unable to enter the harbour, the casualty would have been transferred to the lifeboat.
The second shout came at about 2am when the all-weather Shannon lifeboat launched to help look for a yacht which had broadcast a weak and broken mayday call somewhere to the north.
It was another joint operation involving Whitby lifeboat and the coastguards’ helicopter, which eventually found the yacht much further north than expected and towed it into Whitby harbour. Scarborough lifeboat was stood down.
The crew of six volunteers, one of whom had been on the earlier shout, finally managed to get to their beds by 5am.
RNLI Media contacts
- For details, ring Scarborough RNLI press officer Dave Barry on 07890 322992.
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 142,700 lives.
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