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RNLI Penlee train with the Royal Navy

Lifeboats News Release

On Thursday 7th December Penleeā€™s all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the Ivan Ellen under command of coxswain Patch Harvey and his volunteer crew rendezvoused with a Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter from RNAS Culdrose for a combined training exercise.

RNLI volunteer watches helicopter

RNLI/Patch Harvey

RNLI Penlee train with Royal Navy
At the request of the Royal Navy the RNLI’s Penlee Lifeboat Station launched to carry out two training exercises, one in the afternoon air-lifting two lifeboat volunteers and one at night air-lifting Naval personnel.

Although the weather conditions improved during the evening, the afternoon session recorded winds of WSW 5-6 and a 1.5 metre swell, coxswain Patch Harvey said “these exercises were very worthwhile for the lifeboat crew particularly the newer volunteers.”

The Merlin Helicopter Force, based at RNAS Culdrose, operates 30 Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 3 Squadrons and deploys globally on Royal Navy ships. Primarily an anti-submarine helicopter and armed with Stingray torpedoes, the Merlin Helicopter Force also delivers a number of other roles including: casualty evacuation, lifting under-slung loads, search and rescue, and other contingency tasks.

Notes to editors
Penlee RNLI is based in Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 5HW. The volunteers crew an all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the Ivan Ellen and a B class Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat the Mollie and Ivor Dent. The Penlee Lifeboat has a rich 200 years history of saving lives at sea.
RNLI media contacts For more information, please contact Phil Monckton, Penlee Lifeboat Press Officer on 07879818095 or [email protected], or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Manager [email protected] or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07786 668847 or [email protected].

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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 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 142,200 lives.


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.