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Whitby RNLI in multi-agency search.

Lifeboats News Release

On Thursday 19 September the crew were paged when a distress call was sounded at around 9.30am.

RNLI/Ceri Oakes

Crew preparing to launch Whitby's all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan
The distress signal came from an EPIRB, an Emergency position-indicating radio beacon, usually found on a vessel.

The alarms are triggered automatically when they are under pressure, i.e when a vessel is sinking.

Whitby's all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan was launched as well as the Coastguard helicopter.

The volunteer crew began a search pattern near to the location of the alarm.

Coxswain on the shout, Richard Dowson said: 'We had begun our search pattern when the information came through that the EPIRB had been triggered from land, the location was near the local recycling centre so the most likely scenario is that someone has disposed of the equipment without having it decommissioned.

These things happen, and we are always ready to respond, we were just glad on this occasion that no one was in danger.'

The crew then ended up spending an extra couple of hours at sea due to an extremely low tide meaning that vessels were unable to safely re-enter the harbour until high water.

For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer on 0783359428 or at [email protected]


RNLI/Ceri Oakes

Crew preparing to launch Whitby's all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan

RNLI/Ceri Oakes

Crew preparing to launch Whitby's all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan

RNLI/Ceri Oakes

Crew preparing to launch Whitby's all weather lifeboat, Lois Ivan

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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