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Boxing Day double tasking for New Brighton RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Volunteer crews at New Brighton RNLI were tasked twice in quick succession on Boxing Day, to casualties in danger in the River Mersey on a very foggy evening.

New Brighton RNLI's tractor, carrying the lifeboat, is heading toward the photographer, launching on service. In the fog, beams of light can be seen shining out from the lights behind into the sky. Black and white.

RNLI/Connor Wray

New Brighton RNLI head to their launch site on a foggy night.

Festivities and celebrations were put on hold for the crew of New Brighton’s Atlantic-85 inshore lifeboat when the pager sounded at approximately 5pm on Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day 2024.

The initial tasking from HM Coastguard was to a person in the water at Liverpool’s Pier Head. This incident was resolved when the casualty self-recovered a short time later and the lifeboat was stood down just prior to launching. Upon returning to the boathouse and preparing the lifeboat for service once again, a second tasking came in almost immediately, at 5:15pm.

The second report was to a second person in the water in the Egremont vicinity, on the Wirral side of the river. The lifeboat launched quickly and was first on scene, conducting initial shoreside searches in difficult conditions, with visibility at less than 200m in thick, low fog. They were very quickly joined by Marine Fire One, a Merseyside Fire and Rescue search and rescue asset.

The casualty was shortly recovered safely to ambulance and fire crews shoreside, and all units were stood down by HM Coastguard to return to station and prepare for service once more.

Adam Bidston, helm for both taskings, said:

‘This was an urgent tasking in tricky conditions, but the crew performed exceptionally well, with excellent communication throughout. Thankfully both incidents had good outcomes with all being safe and well.

Many of our crew were just sitting down to relax with their Boxing Day tea, so this was a good reminder that we are on service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year round to keep our coastlines safe. If you’re heading out for a festive walk over the holidays, always carry a means of communication with you and, if you or someone else get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

Notes to Editors:

New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.

The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.

RNLI Media Contacts

Connor Wray – Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO)

07756553092

[email protected]

A slightly unclear photo of the river Mersey from the shore. A groyne marker can be seen to the left of the image, with illuminated green top. The lifeboat is off to the right, lit by its navigation lights. A very foggy night.

RNLI/Connor Wray

Tricky conditions for searching the River Mersey
Photo taken from New Brighton beach, of the tractor, carriage and lifeboat, carrying crew, making its way across the beach to the launch site.

RNLI/Connor Wray

New Brighton lifeboat head to the launch site.
The lifeboat has recovered into the carriage in the dark. The river, sky and tractor can barely be seen, with light only coming from the tractor headlights and the carriage mast lights, illuminating the deck of the lifeboat.

RNLI/Connor Wray

Recovery after a good conclusion to the tasking
New Brighton RNLI's tractor, carrying the lifeboat, is heading toward the photographer, launching on service. In the fog, beams of light can be seen shining out from the lights behind into the sky. Colour image.

RNLI/Connor Wray

New Brighton RNLI make their way to the launch site.

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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