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Dolphins greet Gravesend RNLI volunteers returning from tasking on River Thames

Lifeboats News Release

At Midday on 25 February, Gravesend’s lifeboat 'Olive Laura Deare II' was returning to its station following a tasked job by HM Coastguard at Crossness, when crew on board were surprised to see three dolphins swimming towards them at Northfleet.

RNLI crew member John Robinson said,It was an incredible sight, we spotted the dolphin like fins at first, there were two adults and a calf, they were approximately two metres in length, incredible to witness right here on the River Thames, especially when they were jumping out of the water’.

Gravesend RNLI Station Manager Ian Smith added, ‘We often see Seals whilst out on the Lifeboat, but porpoises and dolphins are definitely on the rarer side of marine mammals we spot!’

The tidal Thames is home to internationally significant numbers of migratory and overwintering birds, 125 species of fish and marine and terrestrial mammals, and a wide variety of plant species.

Once the pod passed, the crew continued back to Gravesend Reach, refuelled and ready for service by 12:14pm.


ENDS

Notes to Editor

Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ashley Bard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI on 07557 157 587 or email [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected]

Porpoises seen coming out of the water

RNLI

Dolphin seen coming out of the water
Two dolphins spotted on the south shore of the River Thames in Northfleet Hope

RNLI

Two dolphins spotted on the south shore of the River Thames in Northfleet Hope
Dolphin coming close to the RNLI Lifeboat to investigate

RNLI

Dolphin coming close to the RNLI Lifeboat to investigate

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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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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