Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft crew rescues three cut off by tide
Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft crew rescues three cut off by tide
Lifeboats News Release
An RNLI hovercraft crew rescued three teenagers after they were cut off by the tide in Norfolk.Volunteers rushed to Hunstanton lifeboat station after their pagers went off at 7pm on Sunday, 23 June.
RNLI/Chris Bishop
RNLI hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer, which rescued three youths who were cut off by the tide
Hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer and her three-strong crew were on their way to the scene at Titchwell within 10 minutes of the alarm being raised by HM Coastguard.
The craft made good progress on a flooding tide and located the three young men, who were uninjured.
The crew transferred them to Brancaster, where they were handed over to coastguards.
Hunstanton Flyer then made her way back to the station, where she was washed down and refuelled ready for service.
Notes to Editors
The station is one of just four around the UK coast which operates a search and rescue hovercraft.
The fast, nimble craft can reach areas of shallow water and also fly across sand and mudbanks.
Hunstanton also operates an Atlantic 85 fast inshore lifeboat, Spirit of West Norfolk, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton and the founding of the RNLI, whose work would not be possible without donations from its supporters.
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.