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Kayakers landed by Whitstable RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Two kayakers and their craft had to be brought ashore by the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat after they reported they were struggling against the wind and tide and drifting out to sea off Whitstable on Saturday afternoon.

Under grey skies the Whitstable lifeboat returns to station from an exercise prior to being tasked to search for two kayakers reported to be in difficulties off Whitstable on Saturday.

RNLI/Chris Davey

Under grey skies the Whitstable lifeboat returns to station from an exercise prior to being tasked to search for two kayakers reported to be in difficulties off Whitstable on Saturday.
The B-Class lifeboat Lewisco had just returned to station from an exercise when at 2.30pm Dover Coastguard requested the crew to search for the casualties.

Lifeboat Helm Ben Crosswell said “Whilst proceeding to the search area between The Swale and Whitstable Bay we came across the Whitstable Yacht Club safety boat towing the kayak and with the two occupants onboard the safety boat”.

“The casualties and their craft were transferred to the lifeboat and brought ashore at the lifeboat station and our thanks go to the safety boat crew for assisting”.

“Whilst the two kayakers were equipped with buoyancy aids and a means of communication which was good they had misjudged the wind and tide and were having difficulty regaining the shore”.

“Our advice is that those venturing onto or into the water should always be familiar with wind, tide and any other local conditions before commencing any activity at sea and it is also a good idea to inform someone on shore of proposed activities”.

Notes to editors

  • Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

  • The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

  • She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

  • RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
    07741 012004/
    [email protected]

  • Julie Rainey - Regional Communications Lead : 07827 358256

  • Hatti Mellor - Regional Communications Manager :07724 801305

    For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789


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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

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