
A busy morning for Swanage lifeboats
During the morning of 13 September both lifeboats were tasked to various incidents.
The navigator plotted a 'rapid response' search area while the lifeboat was on route. The UK Coastguard also provided a search area and the two search areas were very similar giving a search area about 2.5nm west of the first reported position.
While on route to the search area information came from the UK Coastguard that the liferaft's owner had reported it lost and confirmed that no people were involved. The Coastguard asked the lifeboat to continue with the tasking and recover the liferaft to prevent further sightings.
When the ALB entered the search area the raft was sighted quickly and once alongside the liferaft was taken on board and deflated ready for the passage back to Swanage.
As the ALB approached Swanage the UK Coastguard requested both the ALB and the smaller D class inshore lifeboat (ILB) to act as safety boats while coastguards, Wessex Search & Rescue and Police continued the previous night's search for a missing person.
The lifeboats assisted searching around the Ballard point to Old Harry area and at the conclusion of the search were able to return to station to be made ready for further service.
Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the missing person.
ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Steve Williams, John Deas, Matthew Steeden, Becky Mack, Ben Bamber
ILB Crew: (Helm) Darren Tomes, Andy Redout, Fergus Holley
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winchman) Dave Turnbull, Jamie Trumper, Julian Vass, Paul Meacham, Danielle Dix, Connor Brown, Archie Burgess
RNLI volunteer media contact
For more information please telephone Becky Mack, Swanage RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07812 558487 or at [email protected]
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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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