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Bridlington RNLI called into service on World Drowning Prevention Day

Lifeboats News Release

Bridlington RNLI volunteers called into service on World Drowning Day after two swimmers were reported as possibly missing in the water.

Bridlington RNLI D-Class lifeboat 'Ernie Wellings' launching.

RNLI/Mike Milner

Bridlington RNLI D-Class lifeboat 'Ernie Wellings' launching.

Two persons were seen to enter the sea this afternoon, Thursday 25 July, and were reported as possibly missing by the RNLI Lifeguards. At 5.40pm the HM Coastguards requested that the Bridlington RNLI D-Class inshore lifeboat ‘Ernie Wellings’ to launch with immediate effect.

With a volunteer crew of three, the inshore lifeboat launched from the south beach by 5.51pm and within 7 minutes was on scene and commenced a search of an area close to the RNLI Lifeguard look out point on the north beach.

An update was received shortly after from the RNLI Lifeguards and mobile HM Coastguard team that both persons had been spotted and both were confirmed as safe and well and out of the water, with this new information the RNLI lifeboat was stood down and returned to the south beach by 6.20pm, where it was recovered, washed down and back on service by 6.50pm.

Bridlington volunteer Helm Ash Traves said, ‘today, on World Prevention Drowning Day, the RNLI issued a reminder to the public that everyone visiting beaches along the coast to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. The swift intervention of the RNLI Lifeguards along with our colleagues, the HM Coastguards, today showed the importance of partnership working and the public following our advice’.

Note to editors.

Photographs credited to Bridlington RNLI/Mike Milner.

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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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