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Whitstable RNLI assist Paraglider

Lifeguards News Release

The Whitstable Atlantic 85 RNLI Lifeboat Lewisco assisted other emergency services following a report of an injured paraglider on the beach at Bishopstone, East of Herne Bay on Monday morning.

Whitstable Lifeboat approaches the cliffs at Bishopstone on Monday morning.

Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

Whitstable Lifeboat approaches the cliffs at Bishopstone on Monday morning.
Launching at 10.42 the lifeboat arrived at the scene and a crew member was put ashore to assist a paramedic. Also at the scene or proceeding to the scene were the Herne Bay and Margate Coastguard Rescue Teams, a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and a helicopter from Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. (HEMS)
Helmsman Dave Parry saidThe location of the casualty, around half a mile from the nearest access point, meant that the lifeboat was the most effective way of extracting him from the beach at the base of the cliff”.

“The lifeboat briefly departed from the scene to collect further kit from a coastguard vehicle at Ocean View, Bishopstone and returned to the scene. As the tide was falling and there were numerous rocks and obstructions the second crew member walked the stretcher shore from lifeboat anchored further offshore”.

“At 11.39 the casualty was carried out to the lifeboat by the two crew members assisted by members of the Coastguard Rescue Team following which the lifeboat proceeded, at a reduced speed in order to reduce casualty movement and discomfort and was subsequently landed ashore at Herne Bay Harbour into the care of coastguard and ambulance personnel”.

Dave Parry continuedAll the different agencies involved worked closely together, each bringing their own particular skills to the table, to give the casualty the best possible outcome”.

The casualty, a 60-year old male suffering from back injuries was later flown to King’s College Hospital.

Weather conditions at the time of the incident were North Westerly force 3 winds and good visibility.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
    07741 012004/ [email protected]

  • Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 [email protected]

  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789


Lifeboat crew members assisted by coastguards bring the injured paraglider to the lifeboat

Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

Lifeboat crew members assisted by coastguards bring the injured paraglider to the lifeboat.
Lifeboat crew members care for the casualty as the lifeboat proceeds to Herne Bay.

Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

Lifeboat crew members care for the casulty as the lifeboat proceeds to Herne Bay.

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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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.

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