Clacton RNLI Mayday launch to person in water
The volunteer crew of the Clacton RNLI lifeboat station launched on Friday 20 May 2022 around 9pm to reports of a person in the water due to their three-metre dinghy capsizing, a shout of the most urgency.
The crew launched the Atlantic 85 lifeboat David Porter MPS into windy but clear conditions with only an approximate last known location available.
The volunteer crew used their extensive local knowledge, tools aboard the lifeboat and using a flare launched into the sky, the crew successfully located the casualty approximately a quarter mile off the Gunfleet Sands windfarm.
The casualty was quickly retrieved from the sea and the lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station, where a welfare check of the casualty was performed, and found that the casualty was okay, just feeling cold from being immersed in the water.
The Clacton crew stood down and the lifeboat was cleaned, refuelled and ready for service by 11.30pm.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
Mark Walsham, RNLI Clacton volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07468511158, or
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.