RNLI lifeboat launched twice to the same vessel in a matter of hours

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ launched at 7.40pm on Sunday 8 September after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a vessel in difficulties somewhere off the Isle of Grain but the exact position was unclear.

The lifeboat crew located the casualty with one man on board at 8.08pm hard aground to the South of the East Blyth buoy.

With the state of the tide the closest the lifeboat could get was nearly a mile away from the casualty and with the man in no imminent danger the lifeboat was stood down and was back on her moorings at 9.10pm.

The ALB was tasked again by the UK Coastguard at 1.14am the next morning to the same craft which it was reported had re-floated on the tide and its engine had now failed.

Launching with a crew of six at 1.40am the lifeboat returned to the casualty’s previous location but it had moved and was then found further East at the London Stone which is at the entrance to Yantlet Creek.

With barely a meter of water beneath the keel the lifeboat made a slow approach to the vessel across the Yantlet Flats and came alongside at 2.30am. Two crew members were put on board, the vessels anchor was lifted and with a towline attached the casualty was taken to deeper water and then to Queenborough Harbour where it was safely moored on the all-tide landing at 4.12am.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for further service at 5.00am.

Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Paul Jarvis said: ‘the man had just purchased the craft, an approximately 10mtr 1970’s Broom cruiser type, and had motored without problem from Reading and was heading for Stoke Creek when he got in to difficulties. There was no VHF, navigational aids or indeed any kind of safety equipment onboard, the man was relying solely on his mobile phone which fortunately did not run out of charge.’

The RNLI urges everyone, whether just ‘staying local’ or as in this case making a longer journey, before going out on the water that all safety equipment is in place and serviceable, more than one form of communication is available and also that your craft is sea worthy and in good mechanical order throughout.

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.