Southend RNLI volunteers launch hovercraft and D class to person in the water

Southend RNLI volunteers’ pagers alerted them to an immediate launch at 9.42pm. In calm and clear conditions, inshore rescue hovercraft H-007 launched into service and sped to the last known position of the casualty carrying out a hasty search. A shoreline search was being carried out by HM Coastguards from Canvey and Southend plus police and fire services.

Southend RNLI hovercraft crew then commenced a creeping line search deploying two white flares to luminate the search area, the volunteer crew also used thermal imaging and night vision equipment. Southend inshore rescue lifeboat D-904 launched to help with the increasing search area, Dover Coastguard also tasked search and rescue helicopter Rescue 363.

On the third leg of the hovercraft search pattern at 10.36pm one of the RNLI volunteers using thermal imaging located the casualty several hundred meters offshore in deep water. The hovercraft crew recovered the casualty, a middle aged male. After an assessment, some care, and a thermal blanket given to the casualty the volunteer crew took the man to shore where Coastguards and an ambulance were standing by.

Southend RNLI volunteer hovercraft Commander said: ‘The joint teamwork within the hovercraft crew to plot the casualty’s position, a prompt and safe launch by the shore crew, further support from ILB1, the use of search equipment, the initial hasty followed by a creeping line search and being supported by other blue light partners allowed the hovercraft to locate, recover and land the casualty to the care of the ambulance service in a short amount of time’.

H-007 and D-904 returned to station at 11.30pm where they were refuelled, rehoused and made ready for service by 12.30am.

A multi agency search with eyes on the shore, at sea and in the air proved to be effective in this major search for a missing person.

If you see someone in trouble at sea or by the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. That call could save someone’s life.

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 twenty 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 is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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