
Margate’s RNLI lifeboats in extensive search for missing person
Margate’s two RNLI lifeboats have taken part in an extensive search over two days after a person went missing on the north Kent coast.
Margate’s B class and D class lifeboats were tasked just before midnight last night (Wednesday 23 August) after UK Coastguard received information that a person was missing after taking their dog for a walk earlier in the day in the Minnis Bay/Reculver area, the dog had been found alone.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lydd Airport along with Kent Police and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Margate, Herne Bay and Deal also responded, carrying out a search on land while the lifeboats undertook a shoreline search between Minnis Bay and Reculver and up to half a nautical mile offshore. After around two hours the sea search was called off with the lifeboats returning to station, the shore-based agencies continued their search on land.
Around 10:30am today (Thursday 24 August) Margate’s two RNLI lifeboats were tasked again, joined by Whitstable RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat to recommence the search with Coastguard Rescue Teams and Kent Police also involved on shore. The lifeboats searched close inshore between Margate and Reculver from the shoreline and up to one nautical offshore, the three lifeboats coordinating their search effort to saturate the area. After around two and a half hours, again without result the sea search was called off with onshore searches and enquiries continuing.
Kent Police has issued an appeal for the public’s help in finding the person and details can be found at https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/missing/appeal-to-find-missing-woman-from-upstreet/
Notes to editors
· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station
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For more information please contact:
· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]
· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]
· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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