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Training turns to tasking for Eastbourne RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Crew training on Sunday 14 May turned into a tasking for the volunteer crew of Eastbourne RNLI.

D class lifeboat and casualty vessel at entrance to harbour

RNLI/Pete needham

Crew with vessel
The crew of the D Class inshore lifeboat were doing navigation exercises when they were tasked to a boat with engine failure near the entrance to Sovereign Harbour. They made their way to the casualty vessel and once they were on scene the decision was made to tow the vessel into the locks due to the vessel being close to the transit route in and out of the harbour.

Once the casualty vessel was at a point of safety the crew returned to training before returning to the inshore lifeboat station and getting the boat ready to launch again when needed.

'As the vessel and the people on board were unable to get to into Sovereign Harbour under their own power we felt the safest course of action would be to establish a tow in order to get them to a place of safety and prevent harm to the people on board or damage to the vessel and other vessels entering or leaving the harbour' Helm Jim Edwards said.

The crew were then paged twice more later the same day to reports of a windsurfer in distress, but were stood down before launch as the windsurfer had made their own way ashore and for a second search, but were again stood down when the person believed to be missing was found safe.

Media Contacts:

Daniel Baldock, Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer London London and South East (07785) 296252 [email protected]

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.


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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