
Southend RNLI volunteers tasked to stranded vessel off Chalkwell
Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers were paged at 8.37pm on Saturday (4 January 2025) to a vessel stranded in the Hadleigh Ray off Chalkwell. The volunteers launched the charity’s inshore rescue hovercraft H-006 John Russell at 8.53pm.
It was Southend RNLI’s first call-out of 2025 and there was a cold, blustery wind with sleet. The forecast was for deteriorating conditions. HM Coastguard Southend were in communication with the stranded vessel and requested for the hovercraft to evacuate two of the crew from the vessel.
Southend RNLI volunteers arrived on scene at 9.11pm and assessed the situation before taking the two casualties onboard the hovercraft. The casualties were very cold but not requiring medical attention. The volunteer crew gave the casualties blankets then headed back to the inshore station arriving at 9.58pm, where HM Coastguard Southend were waiting to receive the casualties.
Southend RNLI volunteer hovercraft Commander Tony Bonham said: ‘There was a cold wind with sleet falling, and we were concerned for the two casualties who were very cold. After a health check and wrapping them in blankets we made a relatively slow trip back to the station so not to cause any unnecessary spray and discomfort to the casualties.'
Southend RNLI volunteers prepared hovercraft for service again, switched the pagers back on and returned home.
If you get into trouble or see someone in trouble by the coast or at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
For further information please contact:
- Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
- Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
Notes to Editors:
- Southend RNLI is one of the busiest coastal stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
- Southend RNLI cover approximately fifteen miles of shore from Shoeburyness to Canvey and beyond.
- For more information, please visit http://www.southendlifeboat.org/
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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
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.
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