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First shouts for Calshot RNLI trainee crew member Ami

Lifeboats News Release

Friday 26 May saw trainee crew member Ami Stidolph participate in her first shouts as boat crew. At 3:30pm, Calshot RNLI were called to assemble after the local NCI watchtower spotted a fishing vessel in difficulty close to Calshot Lifeboat station.

Calshot RNLI Trainee boat crew Ami Stidolph after her first shouts.

RNLI/Kelley Leonard

Calshot RNLI Trainee boat crew Ami Stidolph after her first shouts.

Calshot’s D Class Lifeboat Willett comprising Ami, along with three other volunteer crew launched to the casualty vessel, where it transpired that they had suffered engine failure and we also taking on water. The casualty vessel had managed to beach itself on a sandbank near Calshot Lifeboat Station.

Volunteer crew recovered the two casualties on board onto the lifeboat and returned them safely to shore, however despite best efforts, the casualty vessel was unsalvageable.

Whilst out on the water, crew we also tasked to reports of an upturned dinghy near Netley. On arrival at scene, crew recovered one casualty from the water and managed to right the capsized dinghy, before recovering it and the casualty to shore.

Crew then returned to station and made the boat ready for service, before heading home to enjoy the remainder of their evening.

On her experience Ami said: ‘Going on my first shout was amazing and never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to have a second shout in quick succession. Seeing first-hand how quickly things can go wrong at sea highlights the need to always carry a means of calling for help. I am looking forward to continuing to save lives at sea as an RNLI volunteer’.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

Justyn Leonard, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07540 920678 or email [email protected]

Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07785 296252 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

Notes to editors

Calshot Lifeboat Station was established in 1970 and is situated on Calshot Spit at the seaward end of Southampton Water. It operates an Atlantic 85 B Class Lifeboat, Max Walls and a D Class Lifeboat, Willett.

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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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.