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Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft will be flying in for flag day

Lifeboats News Release

A Norfolk lifeboat crew will be bringing their hovercraft to their annual flag day.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Volunteers from Hunstanton RNLI were planning to bring their lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk to town on Saturday, 26 August.

Now hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer, one of just four similar craft in service at stations around the UK coastline, will be on display on the town's main beach instead.

The change has been made for operational reasons, to maintain optimum lifesaving cover as the busy Bank Holiday weekend gets under way.

Supporters will be collecting donations for the charity which saves lives at sea while the hovercraft is on display near the bottom of The Green.

Hunstanton Flyer was launched almost 250 times, saved 13 lives and assisted a further 150 people since she arrived at the station 20 years ago.

Her crew train constantly to meet the challenges they face ranging from people cut off by the tide, to assisting vessels in difficulty and those aboard them or searching for missing persons.

Flag day is also an opportunity to meet some of the volunteers who fly her and find out more about how you could join them, by volunteering for the RNLI.

Editor's notes

Picture attached of Hunstanton Flyer. Please credit RNLI/Chris Bishop.

Both the hovercraft and the lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk are ready to launch 24/7, 365 days a year from the station on Sea Lane, which is one of the busiest in Norfolk.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the 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 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.

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.




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.