Southend RNLI volunteers tasked by HM Coastguard to small sailing vessel aground
Southend RNLI hovercraft H004 ‘Vera Ravine’ launched to assist a small sailing vessel aground 150 meters off Thorpe Bay Yacht Club on Monday afternoon, October 16 at 5.42pm.
Arriving on scene at 5.46pm in a gentle breeze, the volunteer crew found one person onboard a 12-foot tender/dinghy modified with a rudder and sail and the vessel in a poor state.
The charity’s rescue hovercraft ‘Vera Ravine’ assisted the male solo sailor to shore where Southend Coastguard Rescue Team also on scene were waiting.
Both the RNLI and Southend Rescue Team talked to the casualty discovering he had left Woodbridge on the river Deben and was on passage to France via Dover with only very basic provisions. After some good advice, Southend RNLI hovercraft was stood down and returned to station at 6.21pm.
Notes to editor:
Photo credit: Nigel Gilchrist.
RNLI rescue hovercraft ‘Vera Ravine’ is one of four rescue craft housed at Southend RNLI lifeboat station and one of four hovercrafts stationed around our coast. The charity has seven hovercrafts, three of which are relief vessels.
RNLI Media contacts
· Nigel Gilchrist, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Southend RNLI [email protected] 07765 875300
· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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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.