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Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers rescue stricken man from Mulberry Harbour

Lifeboats News Release

Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers were paged at 4.12pm on Thursday (22/02) to check on the welfare of a person seen rowing a dinghy towards the Mulberry Harbour off Thorpe Bay in rapidly deteriorating weather conditions

Southend-on-Sea RNLI crew hand casualty to waiting ambulance crew and Southend-on-Sea Coastguard rescue team at Southend RNLI station

RNLI/Nigel Gilchrist

Southend-on-Sea RNLI crew hand casualty to waiting ambulance crew.

Members of Thorpe Bay Yacht Club (TBYC) had seen a person rowing a dinghy off Thorpe Bay. With the weather deteriorating and an outgoing tide, the yacht club members kept a vigilant eye on the situation. The person appeared to be rowing out to the Mulberry Harbour. Fearing for the persons safety, TBYC members alerted the authorities.

Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteer crew led by helm Tony Field launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 Julia and Angus Wright in heavy seas and a southwest wind gusting 35 mph. The crew made best speed towards the location. HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea had visual contact and reported the casualty had reached the Mulberry Harbour and climbed onto the structure.

The volunteer crew arrived on scene at 5.10pm, one hour before low tide. A crew member was put ashore to assess the casualty. The casualty, a male in his late 30’s was cold, exhausted and it was apparent he needed immediate medical attention. A second crew member was put onshore. With the weather worsening to gale force winds and heavy rain, time was of the essence. The decision was made to transfer the casualty to the lifeboat to take them the one mile to shore. With outstanding seamanship from the helm and exceptional skills from the crew the volunteers transferred the casualty to the Atlantic 85 with great efficiency.

Volunteer helm Tony Field said: ‘This was unquestionably the most challenging shout I have had in 15 years. A huge thanks to crew Josh, Alex and Ed, a super effort all round. Conditions were tough with winds gusting over 40 knots and large breaking waves on the lee shore making it difficult to get the lifeboat close to the casualty, the guy’s did a great job getting the casualty onboard the lifeboat’.

Once the casualty was onboard the volunteers returned to Southend RNLI offshore station, they assessed and treated the casualty then drove the length of Southend pier in the charity’s electric buggy handing the casualty to waiting ambulance crew at Southend RNLI inshore station. At 6.45pm the RNLI volunteer crew debriefed and made the charity’s Atlantic 85 Julia and Angus Wright ready for service.

Without the vigilance of TBYC members, and skilful work of the selfless RNLI volunteers, this would have been a very different outcome. Without the generous donations from the public, the RNLI would not be able to continue to save lives at sea.

Always check the tide times and weather forecast, know your capabilities. If you see someone in trouble by the sea or you are concerned for someone’s safety, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, you could save someone’s life.


Notes to editors

  • Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station has been operating since 1879. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://southendlifeboat.org/
  • Southend-on-Sea RNLI Atlantic 85 Julia and Angus Wright is stationed at the end of Southend pier, launched by davit.
  • Photo credit Southend RNLI

RNLI media contacts

  • For more information please contact: Nigel Gilchrist, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Southend-on-Sea RNLI, 07765875300 or [email protected],
  • Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online

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

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.

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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