Donate now

Three shouts in two hours for Littlehampton RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Two medical incidents and a report of a person in the water sparked a busy afternoon for the volunteer crew of Littlehampton RNLI on Saturday 8 July.

Stock photo of the Littlehampton's Atlantic 85 lifeboat on a training exercise.

RNLI/Beth Brooks

Stock photo of the Littlehampton's Atlantic 85 lifeboat on a training exercise.

The volunteer crew were first called into action at 4.45pm when HM Coastguard asked for assistance in evacuating an injured female casualty from Littlehampton West Beach. Both our lifeboats – Renee Sherman and Ray of Hope – headed to the scene, but once the situation had been assessed, it was decided that it would be best to transfer the casualty to the waiting ambulance via land. Our crew were stood down and started to return to the lifeboat station.

En route, HM Coastguard tasked the crew on Renee Sherman for their second shout of the afternoon. They had received a report that a person on an inflatable was near the entrance to Littlehampton Harbour and needed assistance. The crew searched the area but, luckily, all was well, and they returned to the lifeboat station.

The crew were refuelling Renee Sherman when Littlehampton RNLI received its third shout – to assist neighbouring RNLI lifeboat station, Shoreham Harbour RNLI, with a tow. Shoreham Harbour RNLI had been tasked earlier in the afternoon to recover a 30-foot yacht with engine failure and an injured male on board.

Our crew headed out to meet Shoreham Harbour RNLI and the casualty vessel and took over the tow to the safety of Littlehampton Harbour, where the male casualty was handed over to the waiting ambulance crew. The crew of Littlehampton RNLI returned to the lifeboat station at 9.00pm.

Paul Caldecott, Littlehampton RNLI Launch Authority for the incidents, said: ‘It was a very busy few hours for our lifeboat station, with both of our lifeboats in action. Our volunteer crew are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist those in trouble in local waters, and we are always ready to assist. We wish the casualties we assisted today a swift recovery from their injuries.’

ENDS

Notes to editors

Littlehampton RNLI’s volunteer crew look after the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Bognor Regis and Worthing. Littlehampton RNLI is independent from the Coastguard and receives no government funding. To find out more about Littlehampton RNLI, see https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/27/10-facts-about-littlehampton-rnli-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Beth Brooks, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI

07544 209256 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, London and South East

07785 296252 [email protected]

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

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.

Categories