Fowey RNLI rescue couple and dog stranded for hours on boat stuck in mud
On Wednesday September 6, Fowey lifeboat operations manager, Chris Ogg, was called at home by Falmouth coastguard to be informed that a boat that had gone aground at St Winnow at about 2.30pm and had become stuck in the mud. It was an 18' clinker built boat with two people and their dog onboard.
The coastguard had spoken to the couple and advised Chris that they had food and water and were happy to wait a few hours for the high tide. As St Winnow is thick mud they had to remain on board the boat. Chris talked to the couple by mobile and they told him that they had no lights, and were not sure whether their engine had sucked up the mud.
It was agreed that the volunteer Fowey lifeboat crew would launch their inshore D class lifeboat at 8.10pm when the tide was higher and they would be able to access the stranded boat. The lifeboat crew made their way to the boat using a 'what three words' location they had been given. Chris had asked the couple to drop anchor so that the boat did not keep drifting onto the mud till the lifeboat arrived. Once the lifeboat had located the vessel, they set up a side tow and safely returned the boat to its moorings in Fowey.
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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 142,700 lives.
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