Margate RNLI welcomes new Launch Authority to its lifesaving team

Kieran, a newly-arrived Thanet GP is settling in to his new role as he continues his association with the lifesaving charity following his recent move from Lincolnshire where as well as serving as a local GP for 24 years, was also involved with the RNLI as the Lifeboat Medical Adviser (LMA) for 15 years at Skegness and Mablethorpe lifeboat stations

Along with two other LAs, Christian Wright and Lee Button and including Lifeboat Operations Manager, Derek Amas, Kieran will join the team whose duties include responding to the pager when HM Coastguard requires the services of a lifeboat. The duty LA discusses the situation with the coastguard and authorises the launch of either, or both of the station’s two lifeboats. After briefing the crew on the call, the LA is the point of contact with the coastguard for the duration of the service.

Kieran’s GP qualifications, along with his previous RNLI experience will allow him to deputise for Dr Bhashkar Vishwanathan, Margate lifeboat station’s own long-serving LMA.

“Having been press-ganged into being LMA for Skegness as a newly qualified GP in 2001 I quickly realised lifeboating was, and is, a great way of life” states Kieren, before adding: “Lifeboating enables people to support their local community, help people in difficulty, have fun, and meet great characters.

“When I moved from inland Lincoln back to the Thanet coast I was delighted to be able to renew my relationship with the RNLI and hope to be able to contribute to Margate lifeboat whatever they need from me.”

Now well into the process of integrating with the team at Margate, Kieren adds: “Margate lifeboat crew have been very warm and welcoming, with the expected degrees of professionalism and banter that is found at all RNLI stations.”

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

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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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