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Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers paged twice over the weekend of 25-26 January

Lifeboats News Release

Saturday (25 January) 5.12pm the volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard to people cut off by the tide off Chalkwell.

Arial photo of Southend lifeboat D-771 William Henderson launched and underway with three crew

RNLI/Nigel Gilchrist

Southend lifeboat D-771 William Henderson

Launching the charity’s inshore D class lifeboat D-771 William Henderson at 5.26pm the RNLI crew proceeded to the reported location where a member of public had seen a group of four to five people that appeared to be cut off by the tide.

The volunteer crew carried out a thorough search of the surrounding area along with Coastguard rescue helicopter 163, local HM Coastguard rescue teams and Canvey Coastwatch volunteers covering Westcliff to Two tree island and Canvey point.

With a light breeze and good visibility, the use of white flares by the lifeboat crew was authorised by Dover Coastguard to aid in the search.

At 6.48pm, with Dover Coastguard satisfied that a complete and thorough search had been carried out with nothing found, all agencies were stood down.

Sunday night at 11.05pm with gale force winds and heavy rain the pagers sounded for the second call.

The volunteer RNLI crew in the RNLI lifeboat buggy were heading out to the offshore station situated at the end of Southend pier when they received information of a vessel in difficulties in Benfleet creek, just as Storm Herminia was hitting the south of England and the coast of Wales.

Canvey Coastguard rescue team were on route to the scene, in the meantime Southend lifeboat was put on standby ready to launch.

Within a short time, HM Coastguard Canvey rescue team had resolved the situation, Southend lifeboat was stood down at 11.55pm.

If you 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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For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

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.

One of Southend RNLI's two electric buggies parked at the offshore station

RNLI/Nigel Gilchrist

One of Southend RNLI's electric buggies

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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