Southend-on-Sea RNLI rescue two teenage paddleboarders
Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers were paged at 3.04pm Friday (19 July) to reports of two teenagers on a paddleboard being swept out to sea with an ebbing tide one kilometre south of Ocean Beach café.
Southend RNLI volunteers launched the charity’s inshore rescue Hovercraft, H-004 Vera Ravine at 3.20pm. On the first day of the summer holiday season, a mini heatwave attracted hundreds of people to Southend seafront, and the volunteer crew had to move quickly to clear on lookers from the lifeboat launch area.
The RNLI hovercraft crew arrived at the reported position at 3.24pm, quickly locating the two casualties on the paddleboard. The teenagers were cold and slightly flustered but in good health. Southend RNLI hovercraft crew took the casualties and their paddleboard back to shore where Southend Coastguard rescue team who had eyes on the casualties throughout were waiting. H-004 Vera Ravine arrived back at station at 3.55pm.
The first informant raised the alarm after seeing the two teens who were drifting out to sea and seemed to be unable to paddle back to shore. No matter how experienced you may be on your craft this incident highlights the importance of checking tides for the local area and being fully prepared before going out on the water. If you see someone in trouble, always call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard.
Southend RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Nigel Gilchrist said: ‘This was a great job by the volunteer crew, a fast and efficient rescue. However, Southend-on-Sea lifeboat volunteers faced challenges launching the lifeboat as they tried to clear people from the launch area. We kindly ask, if you hear the RNLI lifeboat launch siren or RNLI volunteer crew ask you to vacate the launch area, please leave the area as quickly as you’re able. Behind the closed gates there is a safe area to view the hovercraft and lifeboat launches. The area must be cleared, and gates closed before we can launch the rescue craft for the safety of the public and volunteer crew.
‘Although both teens who we brought back were fine on this occasion when we reached them, a delay in launching can put a casualty at serious risk, and a few minutes can make a huge difference whether a rescue is successful or not.’
Stand up paddleboarding has become a fast growing and widely popular activity. For a safe paddleboarding adventure, follow RNLI tips and advice: Always wear a buoyancy aid. Carry a mobile phone in a waterproof case. Wear the correct leash and keep it secured to you at all times. Always check the tides and weather for the area. Avoid paddleboarding in offshore winds. Go with a friend. Wear the correct clothing. Tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back. For RNLI stand up paddleboarding tips and safety advice, follow the link: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/stand-up-paddle-boarding
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 inshore rescue Hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine has been saving lives since 2004.
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]
- Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead - South East, on 07827 358 256 or email [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.