Wells RNLI volunteer crew rescue injured woman from the incoming tide
At 3.04pm on Sunday 20 November, Wells inshore lifeboat crew were tasked by HM Coastguard to go to the assistance of an elderly woman who had fallen. Not only was she in pain and found it difficult to walk, but she had been cut off by the incoming tide.
The woman and her husband had been walking on the marshes at Burnham Overy Staithe when she slipped and fell as the tide advanced.
Wells volunteer lifeboat crew were alerted at 3.07pm and had launched the inshore lifeboat from the new station by 3.16pm. They headed out to sea towards Burnham Overy Staithe where they quickly located the casualty. Although the woman was in pain, she managed to walk slowly to the lifeboat with her husband. The crew took them ashore at Burnham Overy Staithe where the Coastguard team were waiting to take care of them.
A 4.06pm the lifeboat crew left the scene and returned to Wells Lifeboat Station. The inshore lifeboat was recovered at 4.21pm and was washed and refuelled, ready for service again by 4.41pm
Deputy Launching Authority, Greg Hewitt, said, ‘we are pleased today’s rescue went well and that we could help; however, it is very easy to get cut off by the tide when out walking along our coastline and people should be aware of the dangers of the sea. To avoid getting cut off, we advise people to check the tide times before setting out. It is essential to be back on the main part of the beach or back on the coastal path, at least four hours before high tide to prevent being cut off.’
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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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