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Hunstanton hovercraft commander paged on shout to Sweden

Lifeboats News Release

A Norfolk lifeboat volunteer's longest 'shout' took her all the way to Sweden.

SSRS

Charlie Parfitt from Hunstanton RNLI in a rescue runner used by the Swedish Sea Rescue Society
Charlie Parfitt, who is a hovercraft commander and lifeboat helm at Hunstanton RNLI, took part in a crew exchange programme organised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation.

As she celebrates her 10th anniversary of volunteering for the charity that saves lives at sea, Charlie looked back on a week spent with personnel from eight other nations, which she ranks among the highlights of a decade of dedication to those who find themselves in danger off our coast.

The event was hosted by Sjöräddningssällskapet, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS), who paged crew from eight other nations including Estonia, Finland, France, Holland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK to take part.

After flying into Gothenburg on 21 September, the group's first day began with a tour of city, followed by dinner and a first look at the SSRS's HQ.

After Spending the night in Gothenberg, and a breakfast of picked fish and meatballs, they were then collected by one of the SSRS's larger vessels for the 20-mile journey to the Island of Öckerö, where the SSRS conducts its sea and survival training.

‘The weather was quite mild whilst we were there, but you can see how their dry suits would be good for the colder weather, and they were very comfortable. They have a layer system like we do, but they were more insulated on the outer layer. They also had a big wind collar, and a hood which was very useful,' said Charlie

'In Sweden, almost all their fleet is comprised of jet-driven boats. Their biggest craft is similar to our Shannon class, they also have an 8m FRB with foam sponsons that you steer it with a handlebar - not a steering wheel.'

There's another big difference between The Wash and north Norfolk coast, where Charlie and her crewmates operate an Atlantic 85 along with a search and rescue hovercraft, and her Swedish counterparts' patch.

Sweden has more than 260,000 islands ranging from rocky outcrops to the 900 or so which are inhabited.

'Manoeuvres were really interesting,' said Charlie. 'The knowledge these guys have of their challenging area is amazing, they were navigating through all the islands with great ease.'

Then it was the visitors' turn to show their skills with a live exercise involving multiple vessels.

The 12m boat was tasked on coordinating vessel – and lead a search for the briefed incident. The smaller vessel was tasked to nose around inlets and rocky headlands to look for survivors who had made it ashore.

A person with a simulated broken leg was located on a small island soon after the crews set to work, before three other people were located nearby - including a floating dummy in the sea.

As well as sea-going craft, the SSRS also works with the Swedish Maritime Administration's search and rescue helicopters. Charlie and two of her colleagues were airlifted onto one from a life raft at sea to demonstrate their role.

Before the week came to a close, Charlie found there was one craft she would not be able to launch on.

For while the SSRS operate hovercraft like her home station's iconic Hunstanton Flyer, the craft are used for rescues where the crew have to travel across the ice on frozen lakes and inlets - and this winter's freeze had yet to set in, meaning the hovers would not be flying.

And Charlie found one or two other differences between her crew back home and her Swedish hosts.

'The boathouses we visited were treated as a home with shoes taken off at the door,' she said.

'And a sauna at the boathouse and the training centre is a great way to warm up after cold missions on the water.'

Like the RNLI, the SSRS - formed in 1907 - is a charity which runs 70 lifeboat stations, with more than 200 rescue vessels and 2,100 volunteers.

Charlie, 36, applied for the exchange programme after it was flagged up at a Women in Search And Rescue conference at Poole in March and went out as a notice on the RNLI's intranet.

She fully recommends it to anyone thinking of joining next year's programme to apply.

'They won't regret it,' she said. 'It was a week on boats, in a beautiful country, with other like-minded people from around the world, to develop yourself.

'It's definitely worth it if you want to see how other people do things and build on your own experiences.'

The Hunstanton RNLI boathouse on Sea Lane now sports a few souvenirs of Charlie's trip, including a flag from the RNLI's French equivalent, along with pendants from Estonia and Sweden, which are now on display in the crew room.

Prior to her visit, the Hunstanton crew signed an RNLI ensign, which Charlie took with her to present to the SSRS, before it went on display at their training centre.

'They were very proud to receive this,' said Charlie. 'It was humbling to see other flags that had been left by previous crew at the training centre and it gave me a real sense of being a part of something bigger.'

Colleagues from other nations were also presented with RNLI200 caps.

'In just a week strong friendships were formed, with not just a couple of people but the whole group,' said Charlie.

'We have a group chat together and still share experiences from our lives as crew.

'This, in itself to me, is invaluable and I am very grateful to have met such amazing like minded people.'

Notes to Editors

Charlie Parfitt joined the crew at Hunstanton RNLI crew 10 years ago.

She is one of the station's hovercraft commanders and is also one of the helms on its fast inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk.

Hunstanton is one of the region's busiest lifeboat stations.

Like more than 200 around the coast of the UK and Ireland, the work of its volunteers would not be possible without the kindness of those who donate to the RNLI or remember the charity with a legacy.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.


SSRS

Charlie Parfitt and colleagues waiting to be airlifted from a life raft

SSRS

Charlie Parfitt is winched up by a Swedish search and rescue helicopter

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Charlie Parfitt (left, rear) wityh colleagues taking part in the International Maritime Rescue Federation's exchange

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Charlie Parfitt (second left) with colleagues taking part in the International Maritime Rescue Federation exchange

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Charlie Parfitt, who is a hovercraft commander and lifeboat helm at Hunstanton RNLI

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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