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Whitby RNLI recover empty life raft spotted off Whitby.

Lifeboats News Release

The call came into the coastguard yesterday (Sunday 21 July) that an empty life raft was floating off the coast of Whitby.

RNLI

The orange life raft recovered by Whitby RNLI
The crew launched at 10.30am and headed to the location of the raft approximately 7 miles north east of Whitby.

They located the bright orange life raft, which was empty, and recovered it onto their all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan.

Coxswain Howard Fields said: ‘Many thanks to the crew aboard yacht 'Gaffer' who spotted the life raft, reported it and remained alongside until we were on scene to recover it.

They did the right thing by reporting it, as not only can debris in the water be dangerous to other vessels, but the nature of the object would have been a cause for concern for other boat users.

We spotted the name of the boat that the life raft had come from, and with the Coastguard were able to establish that no one was in danger and it had come off a wind farm support vessel.'

The life raft will remain at Whitby Lifeboat station to be collected.

For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428

RNLI

The orange life raft recovered by Whitby RNLI

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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