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Seven days, seven shouts: Queensferry RNLI's busiest week so far in 2023

Lifeboats News Release

Volunteers at Queensferry RNLI had seven shouts in seven days, making it the busiest week in 2023 to date.

Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat launching on service, from the Hawes Pier. The lifeboat is 'tipped in' backwards off the carriage.

RNLI/ Queensferry RNLI

Queensferry RNLI 'Jimmie Cairncross' Lifeboat launching on service, from the Hawes Pier.

The first page was at 12:05pm on Sunday 5 February, and the second page was received during a training session that afternoon. On Monday 6 February, the crew received their third page at 3:21pm, then another on Wednesday 8 February at 4:37pm, and Friday 10 February at 12:18pm.

Finally, the crew had two back-to-back on the afternoon of Saturday 11 February, with the first at 1:04pm. The volunteer boat and shore crew accrued a total of 106 hours volunteering time to help those in distress and help to save lives at sea.

On Sunday 5 February, the Queensferry RNLI lifeboat was called at 12:05pm by UK Coastguard to persons on the Cramond Causeway with the tide coming in. During the lifeboat launch, information was received that the persons had got back ashore safe and well, and the crew were stood down.

The UK Coastguard requested a second launch to persons cut off by the tide on Cramond Island that afternoon. The lifeboat was able to retrieve the casualties and hand them over to UK Coastguard personnel, with no medical assistance required.

On Monday 6 February at 3:21pm, the lifeboat was tasked to assist Police Scotland and then on Wednesday 8 February at 4.37pm, a local bystander had reported that a dinghy had capsized with two persons in the water under the Forth Road bridge. On arrival, the crew of the dinghy had successfully got back on board and righted their dinghy, and had established support from a local safety boat. The lifeboat escorted them to Port Edgar and handed them over to the UK Coastguard.

On Friday 10 February at12.18pm, the lifeboat was tasked to support Police Scotland with an incident off the coast at Silverknowes.

Finally, on Saturday 11 February at 1.04pm, reports were received of a paddleboarder in distress in the area between the Forth Rail Bridge and Forth Road Bridge. After a search of the area, the lifeboat was stood down and it was confirmed the call was a false alarm with good intent. The crew had just completed washing the boat down when they were tasked again to 3 persons cut off by the tide on Cramond Island. All were retrieved and handed to the UK Coastguard, with no medical assistance required.

Davie Smart, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Queensferry Lifeboat says; “You never know when the next time is that you’ll hear the pager go off, but we are always ready, and this week has certainly been exceptional. The utmost of thanks to the volunteers for dropping everything multiple times this week. Also thank you to the volunteer’s families and employers for their support, flexibility with plans, and their patience.”

Notes to editors

· The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

· The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.

· Queensferry RNLI is based at Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, EH30 9TB. The lifeboat station was founded in 1967 and the volunteer crew use an inshore Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross.

· To learn more about the lifeboat station visit; https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/queensferry-lifeboat-station

Photo Credits

Photo 1 Queensferry RNLI 'Jimmie Cairncross' Lifeboat launching on service, from the Hawes Pier.

Photo 2 The crew getting themselves and the lifeboat kitted up for launching on service.

All photos should be credited RNLI/ RNLI Queensferry.

RNLI Media Contacts

Julie Dominguez, Lifeboat Press Officer, Queensferry Lifeboat Station, [email protected]

Adele Allan, Lifeboat Press Officer, Queensferry Lifeboat Station, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

The crew getting themselves and the lifeboat kitted up for launching on service in the boat shed.

RNLI/ Queensferry RNLI

The crew getting themselves and the lifeboat kitted up for launching on service.

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.

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