Whitstable RNLI assist Kayaker

Helmsman Dave Parry said “We arrived off Preston Parade, Seasalter. to find there were two kayaks visible, but only one person aboard who was holding two paddles, raising concern that someone could be missing”.

“We came alongside the kayaker who stated that her companion had capsized but couldn't re-board, so had swum ashore. She was attempting to tow the empty kayak ashore, but was finding it hard going”.

“Both she, and the two kayaks, were brought aboard the lifeboat, and subsequently landed ashore at Preston Parade”.

Dave Parry continued “Although there was no danger to life in this instance the first informant did the right thing by passing on her concerns to HM Coastguard. Not everyone in or on the water has the means to call for help if they need assistance so we rely on the vigilance of people ashore to raise the alarm if necessary”.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]

• Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

 

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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