
Four shouts in one day for Littlehampton RNLI
Beautiful weather and a brisk offshore breeze led to a busy Bank Holiday Sunday (28 May) for the volunteer crew at Littlehampton RNLI – who were called into action four times within the space of a few hours.
reports that three windsurfers were one mile south of the entrance to
Littlehampton Harbour and were having trouble returning to shore. The
lifeboat station’s Renee Sherman lifeboat was launched, and the
volunteer crew conducted a thorough search along the coast from
Littlehampton Harbour to Ferring. They spoke to a number of people who
matched the description received by HM Coastguard, but they were all
safe and well. Our lifeboat was stood down and returned to
Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station at 4.30pm.
About 20 minutes later, the crew were again tasked by HM Coastguard
following reports that a dog was in the sea at Ferring and that a
number of people had entered the water to help. However, we were stood
down just as our Renee Sherman lifeboat was launching down the
slipway.
The crew’s third shout of the day came at 5.52pm when we were tasked
by HM Coastguard to reports that a board user was having trouble
returning to shore near Worthing and had attached themselves to a
marker buoy. When our Renee Sherman lifeboat arrived at the reported
location, there was no one there, so our volunteer crew conducted a
detailed search of the area*. Our volunteer crew were stood down by HM
Coastguard and returned to Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station at
9.20pm.
While our crew were conducting the search, our team at the lifeboat
station had been monitoring a pan-pan distress signal from an
eight-metre trimaran that had lost engine power. After HM Coastguard
had requested other boats in the area for help, they tasked
Littlehampton RNLI into action for the fourth time that day. Our
volunteer crew refuelled Renee Sherman and returned to sea, reaching
the casualty vessel at 9.48pm, five miles south west of the entrance
to Littlehampton Harbour. Our crew assessed the situation and decided
that the best possible course of action was to tow the vessel to the
safety of Littlehampton Harbour. The trimaran was towed and safely
moored at Arun Yacht Club, in Littlehampton Harbour, at 11.20pm.
Nick White, Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station’s Lifeboat Operations
Manager and Launch Authority for the incidents, said: ‘Beautiful
weather and a brisk offshore breeze led to a busy day for our
volunteer crew. It’s easier than you think to get into trouble in the
water, so we would always urge people – whatever their planned
activity – to be aware of the dangers. Our top safety tips are to know
your limits and don’t take risks; go with others and look out for each
other; and make sure your phone is charged so you can call for help if
you come across anyone who needs it.’
For more safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe at the coast
and in the water, see www.rnli.org/safety
*Please note: While Littlehampton RNLI were conducting this search,
the emergency services were attending another incident on Worthing
seafront. This was a separate incident.
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.