Bridlington RNLI volunteer crew in 14-hour rescue

The volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew of the Bridlington all-weather lifeboat Anthony Patrick Jones was launched at the request of the Coastguard on Sunday (2 October).

Bridlington RNLI volunteer crew were called into service at 5.15pm on Sunday in response to a yacht that had called for assistance 45 miles off Flamborough Head after flares had been spotted by a passing vessel and in response put out the assistance call. The all-weather boat was launched at 5.35pm to go to the yacht’s aid.

The yacht was a 38-foot vessel which had lost its mast in strong winds as well as its navigational equipment rendering the boat disabled and drifting for some considerable time. The volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI reached the yacht at 7.40pm where the sole occupant was found to be in good spirits, well prepared and requiring no medical attention. A tow was established and the yacht was brought back into Bridlington Bay at 3am after a six-hour return journey,

Once back in the bay it was not possible to enter the harbour due to the low tide and the all-weather boat dropped anchor and had to wait for the tide to rise sufficiently. The yacht finally was brought back into the safety of the harbour at 6am with the lifeboat being recovered from the beach at 7.10am and was soon again ready for service.

Chris Brompton, Bridlington RNLI Coxswain said, ‘A great team effort from all of the crew and also a mention to the passing tanker who stopped and secured the yacht to stop him drifting before our arrival on scene.’

Notes to editors

The attached photographs show the Bridlington Lifeboat in Bridlington Harbour after the rescue. Credit to HM Coastguard Bridlington. Also, Bridlington Lifeboat returning to the beach this morning. Credit to Ron Willsher.

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For more information, please call Mike Milner, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or call:07751-054052.

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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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