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Paddle Boarders landed by Whitstable RNLI
Two paddle borders who found themselves in difficulties under Herne Bay Pier had to be brought ashore by the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat on Friday afternoon.
Diverting from an exercise at 2.22pm the crew located the two female casualties and a Herne Bay Lifeguard in the North West corner of the pier head.
The lifeguards had alerted the lifeboat through Dover Coastguard.
Helm Sam Turner said “We made a close approach whilst the crew prepared a throw line and pulled the paddle boarders towards the lifeboat”
“Once they were alongside both casualties and the lifeguard were brought onboard and their boards secured and taken ashore to the lifeguard hut to the West of the pier”
Sam continued “Strong winds had blown them under the pier and they were unable to extract themselves”
“Fortunately one of the Herne Bay Lifeguards had paddled out on his board and was able to stabilize them by keeping hold of then until the arrival of the lifeboat”
“We praise both casualties for wearing suitable personal floatation devices but we would advise especially with windy conditions set to continue over the weekend that those using paddleboards be aware of wind and tide and their own personal abilities when venturing out on to the water”.
This was the 47th call of the year for the volunteers at Whitstable RNLI
RNLI Media Contacts
Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]
Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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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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