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Walmer RNLI responds to Mayday call

Lifeboats News Release

Volunteer crew aids catamaran in distress.

The catamaran off walmer Castle

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

The catamaran off Walmer Castle

Walmer’s Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan launched at 12.43pm on Saturday afternoon, 22 July following a direct paging from HM Coastguard to an 11-metre catamaran with two people on board taking on water off Walmer Castle. The two casualties were taken from the vessel onto the lifeboat and landed safely back at the lifeboat station where they were taken directly to the crew room to check on well-being and given warm drinks. The lifeboat then relaunched to retrieve the catamaran’s tender which had come adrift and was drifting back out to sea. This was also returned to the beach.

A further relaunch saw the lifeboat stand by as safety cover, in conjunction with the Deal Coastguard Rescue Team, until the tide had receded sufficiently to assess any damage due to a concern of potential difficulties when and if the vessel was refloated.

The lifeboat was stood down from service at 3.15pm and returned to station.


Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

Recovering the tender

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

Recovering the tender

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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