Donate now

Teenagers rescued during busy afternoon for Whitstable RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A 14-year old male had to be rescued by the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat after getting into difficulties at the entrance to Whitstable harbour on Sunday afternoon.

Whitstable lifeboat approaches the Herne Bay harbour arm during the call to a teenage paddleboarder on the rocks on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

Whitstable lifeboat approaches the Herne Bay harbour arm during the call to a teenage paddleboarder on the rocks on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.
The boy had entered the water and swam out to the Dolphin, a separate mooring structure off the end of the West quay. In the strong South Westerly force 5 wind and being washed by waves he was unable to swim back to the end of the quay.

Eventually, realising the boy was in danger a young relative who was with friends on the quay approached the lifeboat station and RNLI Shop Manager John Hill who alerted the coastguard who ‘paged’ the lifeboat crew.

The Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Lewisco was launched at 2.04pm and the crew quickly located the casualty clinging to the side of the Dolphin. He was brought onboard and landed ashore. Fortunately except for a few cuts and grazes he did not require medical treatment.

Mike Judge, Whitstable Lifeboat Operations Manager said after the incident “This highlights the well known dangers of swimming around the harbour pier heads and being deceived by strength of the tide and sea conditions”.

“Although the boy managed to swim out to the structure he was clearly unable to swim back in the same conditions and initially friends on the quay thought he was skylarking and did not immediately realise he was in danger”.

The Lewisco was launched again later in the afternoon at 3.29pm following a report from Dover Coastguard of another male teenager with a paddleboard on the rocks forming the outer arm of Herne Bay harbour. The lifeboat crew were advised there was a risk of other persons entering the water in an attempt to assist.

In the fresh South Westerly force 4-5 winds and 1-metre swell the lifeboat arrived at the scene and located the casualty near to the entrance to the harbour. A Herne Bay Beach Lifeguard and the coastguard team were also in attendance.

Given that it was deemed too dangerous to attempt extracate the casualty up the rocks the 15-year old was brought onboard the lifeboat and landed ashore into the care of the Herne Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and the lifeboat was released from the incident to return to station.

There have now been 19 calls so far this year for the volunteer crews at Whitstable RNLI.


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



In shallow water crewmembers bring the lifeboat alongside the Herne Bay harbour arm during the call to a teenage paddleboarder on the rocks on Sunday afternoon.

Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable.

In shallow water crewmembers bring the lifeboat alongside the Herne Bay harbour arm during the call to a teenage paddleboarder on the rocks on Sunday afternoon.
Whitstable lifeboat passing the mooring structure known as a 'Dolphin'. Stock Picture

RNLI/Chris Davey

Whitstable lifeboat passing the mooring structure known as a 'Dolphin'. Stock Picture.
The seperate mooring structure known as a 'Dolphin' off the end of the West quay at Whitstable harbour.Picture: RNLI Whitstable.

RNLI/Chris Davey

The seperate mooring structure known as a 'Dolphin' off the end of the West quay at Whitstable harbour
The launching tractor and lifeboat carriage are washed down after Sunday's calls.

RNLI/Chris Davey

The launching tractor and lifeboat carriage are washed down after Sunday's calls.

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