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Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI responds to callout while attending Gala Day

Lifeboats News Release

Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI lifeboat crew, sailing the Atlantic 85 lifeboat on Saturday 26 August 2023, met up with Eyemouth RNLI to attended Eyemouth Gala Day, along with flanking RNLI Dunbar lifeboat station.

Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat towing broken down rib inflatable back to safety.

RNLI/Hazel Bettison

Berwick-upon-Tweed towing rib inflatable

HM Coastguard called to ask for the assistance of the RNLI to go out to a six metre rib inflatable south of Eyemouth near Burnmouth, all three lifeboats at the Gala Day responded.

After assessing the situation, the Dunbar lifeboat returned home as it was deemed not needed in this instance.

As the vessel had been making its way back to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and following a further assessment of the situation, it was decided that the safest option was for the Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI inshore lifeboat crew to take on the tow, with Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat escorting.

Whilst on tow the rib engine was managed to be restarted, so Eyemouth RNLI crew stood down, to go back to the festivities of Eyemouth Gala Day.

Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI crew then stayed with the rib vessel as an escort in case of further difficulties and escorted the rib and crew in to Berwick-upon-Tweed harbour.

This was an example of great team work by all three RNLI lifeboat stations.

One of the crew of the rib vessel, Neil Richmond said: 'We couldn’t have had a better response from the RNLI after calling HM Coastguard, as it was Eyemouth Gala day we had a fast response not with one lifeboat but three. Many thanks to all the lifeboat crews, Eyemouth, Dunbar and Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI who towed us part of the way home and stood by for the rest of the trip once the engine decided to play ball again. The joys of boating.'

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Hazel Bettison, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]

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.

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