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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.

RNLI Picture caption
The photograph shows RNLI hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer. Credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop

RNLI media contacts

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.

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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.

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