
Two boat launch for volunteers
Walmer crews respond to late night paging request.
Following a request from HM Coastguard at 9.41pm last night, 4 July, volunteers on board Walmer’s Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and D Class Duggie Rodbard II launched at 9.50pm, and 9.55pm respectively to locate two people cut off by the rising tide near St Margaret’s Bay. They were discovered standing on top of the rocks, indicating their position to the crews with a mobile phone torch.
The smaller D Class lifeboat nosed into shore, taking the casualties on board and providing them with survivors lifejackets before transferring them to the Atlantic 85. Sea conditions in St Margaret's Bay dictated that the casualties should be brought back to Walmer lifeboat station rather than landing in the Bay itself.
Once on station, they were kept warm and given a hot drink by Walmer shore crew. This was followed by a health check undertaken by the Coastguard Rescue Team before being returned to St Margaret's Bay to pick up their own vehicle.
Speaking after the recovery of both lifeboats, Launch Authority Richard Samuel said ‘We strongly recommend that when undertaking a coastal walk to be aware of local tide times and weather conditions. Never venture too close to a cliff edge, and if walking along a beach, beware of the possibility of cliff falls.’
Notes to editors
Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.
It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.
Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry
To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
- Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
- Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]
- Hatti Mellor, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305
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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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