
Ramsgate RNLI recognised for multi person rescue in October 2022
Last Saturday (11/01) the volunteer crew of Ramsgate RNLI were honoured by Ramsgate Town Council with a reception at the Royal Temple Yacht Club.
The event was held in recognition of the volunteer crew, as well as fundraisers, education teams, the shop volunteers and the water safety team being awarded Honorary Freeman of Ramsgate.
Councillor Steve Albon raised a toast to the crew, saying: ‘You are the heart of this community.
‘You are the people who drop everything at a moments notice, no matter what time or conditions, to help those in danger on the sea.
‘That kind of dedication and courage is something we can’t thank you enough for.’
It’s rare that all the volunteers get together in one place, and as such, it was the perfect opportunity to officially recognise some of the crew for their courage and selflessness for a rescue that took place on 31 October 2022.
RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager Jason Carroll was on hand to present the RNLI Chairman’s letter of thanks to all-weather mechanic Clive Nicholls, second Coxswain Simon Ellis, volunteer crew Caroline Hoyal, volunteer crew Timothy Burrell-Saward, volunteer crew Maz Critchley, and volunteer crew Scott Warren, and the RNLI’s Thanks on Vellum was presented to Coxswain Paul Cannon.
Details of the rescue were read out to a silent crowd that included the Mayor of Ramsgate Councillor Pat Moore, deputy Mayor Councillor Laurie Hudson, the Chair of Ramsgate Town Council, Councillor Steve Albon and many of his fellow town councillors.
The all-weather lifeboat Henry Heys Duckworth, which was on relief duty at Ramsgate, was launched at 7:21pm into a force seven with the winds expected to increase to severe gale force nine up to storm force ten, and there was an immediate risk to life.
These conditions prohibited any other vessel from attending, with the all-weather lifeboat at Ramsgate the only suitable vessel available to attend.
The crew were faced with a vessel with 42 people onboard, all suffering from exposure and seasickness. The sea state was recorded as very rough, with wave heights ranging from four to six metres.
Paul Cannon was noted as having shown an extraordinary level of seamanship, leadership, concentration and skill in order to keep the lifeboat alongside the vessel for the duration of time that it took to bring the 42 casualties onboard where emergency care was provided.
Jason Carroll went on to say: ‘There was no doubt that the 42 individuals are alive today because of the crews selfless intervention and without their high skill levels and courage the outcome would have been very different.’
Karen Cox RNLI Volunteer Press Officer Tel 07779848431 Email [email protected]
Hatti Mellor RNLI National Media Officer Tel 07724801305 Email [email protected]
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.