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Scarborough RNLI goes to the aid of two people on stranded 33ft motor cruiser

Lifeboats News Release

Scarborough RNLI went to the aid of two people in the early hours of yesterday (Friday) morning after a 33ft motor cruiser got into difficulty.

RNLI/ Helmet Cam

Scarborough ALB from Scarborough ILB

The volunteer crew were requested by Humber Coastguard to assist the crew on the vessel which had ran aground at Long Nab three and a half nautical miles north of Scarborough.

The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Fredrick William Plaxton and the inshore lifeboat RNLB John Wesley Hillard IV launched at 0.20am, following a crew pager alert and proceeded three miles north off Scarborough.

Visibility was poor, with a north easterly wind Force 3-4. The sea state was moderate with up to a metre of swell.

Once on scene, the inshore lifeboat crew went to assess the situation and it was decided that with the combination of sea conditions and an ebbing tide, the safest course of action would be for the HM Coastguard Rescue Team to extract the casualties.

HM Coastguard's helicopter Rescue 912 from Humber was tasked to airlift the two casualties to a landing site on top of the cliff. Both lifeboats were stood down from the scene at 2am and asked to remain on standby at the station.

Speaking after the call out, Scarborough RNLI Coxswain Lee Marton said: 'This was a great example of multi agency teamwork. The Coastguard rescue teams did an amazing job of extracting the casualties to safety in difficult conditions. If you are planning a passage, especially in the hours of darkness, please ensure your passage plan is thorough and you are familiar with all the navigation equipment on the boat.

'As we enter the weekend, we would encourage anyone planning a trip to the coast or an activity at sea to go prepared. Always check the weather forecast and tide times before you set off. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device. Let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back. Always carry a means of communication. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.'

Ends

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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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