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Yarmouth RNLI tasked to four shouts over four days

Lifeboats News Release

Between Thursday 22 and Sunday 25 August 2024, Yarmouth RNLI volunteers sprang into action several times leaving families, pre-made plans and even their beds to aid those in need.

17-25 captured on rough seas whilst on exercise to the Needles Lighthouse

RNLI/Nathan Williams

17-25 captured on rough seas

On Thursday 22 August, Yarmouth crew were paged just before 12:30pm by HM Coastguard to the reports of a drifting RIB half a mile north-east from Hurst Castle. Within 15 minutes, Yarmouth Lifeboat and her crew had launched and were at the last known location of the vessel. After a few enquires made with the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), it was determined that the RIB had most likely drifted to the west of the first reported position. The RIB itself had no one on board and was more than likely the result of breaking from its mooring during some of the bad weather that had occurring around the island the night before.

The RIB was located and escorted back to Yarmouth Harbour. Yarmouth Lifeboat was then marked as ready for service at 1:30pm.

Early Friday morning (23 August) Yarmouth Lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard at 5:20am to join several assets in a large-scale search in the vicinity of Ryde Sands. Yarmouth Lifeboat conducted three large search patterns between the hours of 6:30am and 11:15am, at which time were stood down and returned to station.

Yarmouth Lifeboat was marked as ready for service at her berth in Yarmouth Harbour shortly after midday.

As the late summer bank holiday weekend started, Yarmouth Lifeboat crew were paged by HM Coastguard at 5:30pm on Saturday 24th August to locate a small tug vessel just outside of Yarmouth which had suffered engine failure. The RNLI lifeboat was launched a short ten minutes after the initial page and was alongside the casualty vessel at 5:50pm. It was established that the tug had also unfortunately knotted its rope and anchor chain together and the decision was made to tow it back into Yarmouth Harbour where they could arrange mechanical assistance the following day.

After the post recovery checks, Yarmouth Lifeboat was marked as ready for service at 6:50pm.

As the busy weekend was coming to a close, Yarmouth crews were paged a fourth time to the reports of two people in an inflatable canoe had gotten into difficulty close to Totland Pier. Sunday brought bursts of downpours and blustery winds across parts of the Solent. HM Coastguard paged Yarmouth RNLI just after 6:30pm but the crew were asked to standby as information was being received about the current situation. Thankfully, after holding onto a buoy for safety, the two casualties had managed to use the onshore winds to their advantage and were safely brought back to shore. Yarmouth Lifeboat was then stood down just before 6:40pm.

None of the above would be possible if it wasn’t for the kind donations that we receive. The RNLI is a non-government funded charity that relies on the generosity of the public to continue its lifesaving work. If you wish to donate or to find out what you can do to support us, you can follow the link rnli.org/support-us for more information.


Notes to editors

  • Photo attached - Yarmouth Severn class lifeboat Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) 17-25 at sea during a rough weather training exercise off the Needles by Nathan Williams.
  • Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ came into service in 2001, prior to that Yarmouth RNLI had an Arun Class Lifeboat 52-08 Joy and John Wade which was in service for 23 years.
  • As well as 2024 being the year the RNLI celebrates its 200th year, it will also be Yarmouth Station's 100th year in service.

RNLI contact details:

● Hebe Gregory, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

● Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager (South East & London) [email protected]

● Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead (South East) [email protected]


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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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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