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Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat launches to 3 shouts in 24 hours

Lifeboats News Release

Gravesend lifeboat Olive Laura Deare II was launched three times in a 24-hour period, starting at 6:15am on Tuesday 12 March, followed by a launch at 7:45pm that evening, and finally at 3:33am on Wednesday 13 March.

The picture shows an orange E class RNLI lifeboat on the River Thames, with 4 crew members in full inshore lifeboat kit including a yellow and black drysuit, red lifejackets and white helmets. The boat is banking to the right.

RNLI/Nathan Williams

Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat Olive Laura Deare II on the River Thames.

Tim Wyatt, a volunteer lifeboat crew member for 18 years who was on duty at the time, said, ‘In the early hours of the morning of 13 March, the red telephone rang at Gravesend Lifeboat Station. The call was from HM Coastguard, requesting a launch to London Gateway, which is a port on the River Thames. An aircraft beacon was indicating a distress signal, and we began a search in the area, using a device on the lifeboat that points to the direction of the beacon’s signal.’

The distress signal came from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio beacon (EPIRB). This is a recognised emergency signal, which must be registered, and is one of many forms of calling for help. For personal use when calling for help at sea, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) can be used, which alerts the Coastguard. There are other means of calling for help when you’re on the water, which you can read more about here: How To Call For Help At Sea - RNLI Safety Advice.

Tim added, ‘Around two hours later, it was confirmed that the aircraft was located safe and sound onshore in Bedfordshire, where it was undergoing maintenance. Shouts like these really highlight the importance that if you are ever in doubt about yours or someone else’s safety on or near the water: call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

The preceding two calls were launches to Dartford and Erith respectively, and Olive Laura Deare II was launched by the crew on duty to assist the police in the area. These three launches within 24 hours shows that the RNLI operates 24/7, 365 days of the year, to save lives at sea and on the River Thames.

Notes to Editor

Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Helena Lane, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI on 07809 683883 or email [email protected]

Regional Communications Manager – SE & London, RNLI 07724 801305 or email [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected]

 

The photo shows a crew member in full inshore lifeboat kit including a yellow and black drysuit, red lifejacket and white helmet, doing up their kit.

RNLI/Nathan Williams

A lifeboat crew member at Gravesend lifeboat station, putting their inshore lifeboat kit on before heading out on a shout

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.

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