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First shout of the year for Lymington RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

At 12.43pm on January 1 2023 the Lymington lifeboat was requested to launch by HM Coastguard. Wing foiling gear had been found on Milford on Sea beach and the lifeboat was launched to see if anyone was in difficulty.

Wing (used for wing foiling) found on beach

RNLI/Joanna Styles

Wing (used for wing foiling) found on beach
The lifeboat launched under the helm of Phil Baker and proceeded straight to Milford beach, where the wing foil had been found by a local Coastguard team.
The lifeboat started a shoreline search from Hurst Castle to Milford beach and back to Hurst Castle. Nothing was found and so the crew started a creeping line ahead search from Keyhaven to Tanners Lane.

After several hours of searching the lifeboat was stood down at 3pm by the Coastguard and returned to the station and was ready for service again at 3.30pm.
Phil Baker helm said 'This shout demonstrates the importance of labelling your kit. If there had been a name or phone number on the foil we could have made a call to find out vital information about whether the person was safe on shore, or missing. Labelling can be done free by the MCA. If you do lose any kit at sea it is really important to call the Coastguard on 112'.

Helm: Phil Baker, crew: James Douch, Ben Bradley-Watson, Simon Naylor.
If you, or anyone you know, have lost an item matching the below images please contact Solent Coastguard on 02392 552100.
Description: Red, white and black wing, AFS branded.

Media Contacts:

Jo Styles, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Lymington Lifeboat Station (07725) 640871 [email protected]
Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer (07785) 296252 [email protected]
Search pattern taken by Lifeboat

RNLI/Joanna Styles

Search pattern taken by Lifeboat
Lymington lifeboat with crew

RNLI/Joanna Styles

Lymington lifeboat with crew

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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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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