
Busy weekend for Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat volunteers
Last weekend proved particularly busy for Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew with three service calls in two days plus a regular training session.
On Saturday 7th October the volunteer crew responded to two requests from HM Coastguard to investigate reports of paragliders in difficulty in the vicinity of Golden Cap. In the first incident a fisherman reported that he had witnessed a paraglider landing on the beach and was concerned that the paraglider pilot may become cut off by the tide. The lifeboat launched at 12.42pm and arrived on scene 15 minutes later to find numerous paragliders enjoying fine weather and good flying conditions along the coast between Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon. The second report, less than two hours later, was to a paraglider thought to have ditched at sea in the same area. In both cases the paraglider pilots were located and found to be fit, well and in no need of assistance.
Volunteer lifeboat helm Tom Crabbe who attended both incidents said: ‘There were between 10 and 15 paragliders enjoying the good weather along the Dorset coast. Some onlookers became concerned for the safety of the paraglider pilots and reported these to the coastguard. We investigated both incidents and confirmed that the pilots had landed safely and did not require any assistance.’
On Sunday morning, 8th October, the volunteer crew conducted their regular bi-monthly training session which involved 12 crew spending time on the water to develop and refresh their skills during a series of exercises lasting a total of three hours.
The final chapter of the busy weekend came at 7.24pm when crew pagers sounded again to alert the volunteers of the need to assist a six metre motor boat with two people on board which was having machinery problems a short distance off the beach at Seatown. The crew launched their inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne nine minutes later, located the damaged vessel and escorted it to the safety of West Bay harbour before returning to Lyme Regis at 9pm.
Notes to editors
Phot 1. Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew with paraglider off Seatown in Dorset. Photo credit - RNLI
Contact Details Nick Marks, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer Lyme Regis RNLI. Telephone 07568 187582
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