Good Friday shout sees Yarmouth crews tasked to people in the water

Within ten minutes of the initial page, Yarmouth Lifeboat launched and arrived promptly to the location of the casualties who had been transferred out of the water by the event safety RIB crews at Hurst’s Narrows after their sailing dingy had capsized.

A further two casualties had also been located and transferred onto a second safety vessel which was promptly making its way back to Lymington.

The crew and the casualties from the first safety RIB were transferred on to the All-Weather Lifeboat for initial casualty care where it was discovered that one had ingested a fair amount of sea water and that both were suffering shock after being in the cold water. During this process, the Coxswain and volunteers from Yarmouth assessed the possibility of recovering the upside-down vessel.

Two crew members were also placed on the support RIB which they returned to Lymington Harbour while these assessments were ongoing.

Initial attempts were made to self-right the sailing dingy but were deemed unsafe due to weather conditions and tidal risks. A position and drift rate were then provided to the Coastguard via VHF, and the decision was made to abandon the vessel.

The RNLI lifeboat then made passage to Lymington where they met with the Lymington Coastguard and volunteer crews from Lymington Lifeboat Station while the casualties awaited an ambulance for further medical treatment.

Yarmouth Lifeboat then returned back to her berth in Yarmouth Harbour and was marked as ready for service at 4:20pm.

If you’re interested in a volunteering opportunity at Yarmouth Lifeboat Station, please email [email protected]

Notes to editors

• Images include Yarmouth ALB outside of Lymington Harbour and on passage back to Yarmouth Harbour

• Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) came into service in 2001, prior to that Yarmouth RNLI had an Arun Class Lifeboat 52-08 Joy and John Wade which was in service for 23 years.

• 2026 marks Yarmouth Station's 102nd year in service.

RNLI contact details:

• Hebe Gregory-Pimm, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

• Jess Curtis, Regional Communications Manager (South East & London) [email protected]

• Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead (South East) [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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.