Donate now

Ramsgate RNLI crew launch three times in one afternoon

Lifeboats News Release

Ramsgate's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat 'Claire and David Delves' attended three separate incidents during the afternoon of Saturday 15 October 2022.

A lifeboat leaving the bay

RNLI/Harry Hughes

The inshore lifeboat leaving Broadstairs

The first launch at 1.36 followed a request from the local HM Coastguard for assistance with an injured person on Broadstairs Jetty. A woman had fallen and was in great pain with a suspected broken collar bone. An ambulance had been requested but they had been advised that there would be a long delay before it arrived. The Coastguard requested that the volunteer RNLI crew assist the woman's pain relief with a nitrous oxide gas called Entonox, used as a form of anaesthesia which is carried on the lifeboat. It was decided that the quickest way for delivery to the Jetty was to launch the inshore lifeboat and on arrival at 1.45 two of the crew members went ashore to assist the casualty.


Whilst at Broadstairs Jetty another call was received at 2.15 requesting a search between Broadstairs and Ramsgate for a possible windsurfer. The crew of an Estuary Pilot vessel had recovered a kitesurfing board from the sea but there was no sign of the kite surfer. The lifeboat crew left the casualty in the care of the attending Coastguards and proceeded to recover the board from the pilot vessel and carry out a search along the coastline. No person was found in danger and the search was called off.

A further call was received from HM Coastguard for the inshore lifeboat to carry out a shoreline search between Ramsgate and Kingsgate for a person who had earlier been reported missing at 5.20. The search was called off about 5.40 as the person had been found ashore and the inshore lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

The coxswain of Ramsgate RNLI Ian Cannon said, ‘ Our volunteer crew are always on hand to assist the other Emergency Services. We are funded entirely by public donations without whose vital support we would be unable to carry out our role of saving lives at sea.’

Karen Cox Volunteer Ramsgate Press Officer tel 07779848431 email [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Regional Media Officer London and South East tel 07785296252 email [email protected]


closeup shot of the lifebaot

RNLI/Harry Hughes

Lifeboat crew arriving in Broadstairs

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.

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.