
A busy week for Portpatrick RNLI culminates with four lives saved .
Saturday 13 July at 6.43pm, HM Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Portpatrick RNLI lifeboat for the third time in a week. The team were tasked to assist two small inflatable dinghies, each with two persons on board, drifting south of the Mull of Galloway due to loss of power.
Shannon Class Lifeboat 13 25 Stella and Humfrey Berkeley immediately launched with a full crew of six and headed towards the Mull of Galloway where they received assistance in their search from local HM Coastguard teams who were able to locate and guide the lifeboat to the stricken vessels.
All four people and their boats were recovered and transferred to Portpatrick Lifeboat before being taken back to shore and handed over to the coastguard team. The Stella and Humfrey Berkeley then returned to Portpatrick where she was refuelled and made ready for service.
Andy Stakes, Portpatrick RNLI volunteer coxswain said, ‘Todays incident was remarkably similar to events back in June when we saved two people and a dog at the Mull of Galloway. We would like to remind everyone that the Mull of Galloway is a particularly challenging area for wind and tidal swells. The conditions yesterday were calm with a light breeze but when we arrived at the scene the vessels had already drifted around 2.5 miles away from the shore. Luckily, the persons on board were carrying a mobile phone and were able to contact the coastguard before they drifted to far away from land and out of the range of telephone signal.’
Ian Marshall, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portpatrick added, ‘We are extremely proud of our team here at Portpatrick. This was the third call out this week and another four lives saved. We encourage everyone thinking of taking part in any water sports to check the wind and tides before heading out, wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, and most importantly, carry a means of calling for help that is always easily accessible.’
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Notes to Editors
· Portpatrick Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1877. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station
· Volunteer Coxswain Andy Stakes is available for interview.
· Click here to access the RNLI 200th anniversary media pack, which contains a selection of RNLI archive images from key points in the charity’s history, a RNLI history timeline, and a film of ‘200 years in 200 seconds’ – all of which can be downloaded.
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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