Retired Southend RNLI Atlantic 21 lifeboat keeps on saving lives at sea

Atlantic 21 class lifeboat Percy Garon II B-567 started lifesaving services in 1986 stationed at Southend-on-Sea RNLI. Over the 15 years B-567 was stationed at Southend RNLI the selfless volunteers onboard B-567 carried out some incredible rescues saving many lives. For a heroic rescue during October 1999 where Southend RNLI volunteers saved the lives of three people on a sinking boat during a violent storm, Helm John Foster was awarded the bronze medal for gallantry, crew members Michael Whistler & Ian Rees were awarded a Thanks On Vellum from the RNLI.

Southend RNLI volunteer Michael Whistler MBE said: ‘The Atlantic 21 lifeboat has proven to be an excellent well capable lifeboat, the design speed and agility revolutionizing inshore rescue capabilities, B-567 was certainly put through the paces at Southend with many very challenging jobs in horrendous weather over the years.

‘It really is great to know B-567/R-9 is still in service keeping the volunteers safe and saving lives at sea in Chile, an exceptional lifeboat’.

In 2001 B-567 joined the RNLI Atlantic 21 relief fleet before being stationed at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston RNLI for a short while. In 2004 B-567 Percy Garon II retired from service with the RNLI and was sold.

Bote Salvavidas de Iquique bought the Atlantic 21 lifeboat from the RNLI in 2004, and to this day 2026, at 40 years old, lifeboat R-9 formerly known as Percy Garon II is still training lifesavers and saving lives at sea. This highlights how incredibly well built and robust the Atlantic lifeboats are.

Iquique lifeboat volunteer Miguel Garcia said: 'It was a long road to acquire the Atlantic 21, a dream come true for Iquique lifeboat station volunteers. Our volunteers maintain the lifeboat to keep it in perfect mechanical and operational condition, allowing us to respond to any rescue that occurs along our coast. For 22 years the Atlantic 21 now named R-9 has been the perfect lifeboat for us saving many lives.

'We must also mention the rescue work carried out by this lifeboat saving lives at sea is invaluable but the time for change is approaching.

'We thank Southend RNLI and the RNLI charity for considering Iquique lifeboat station as heirs to such a noble lifeboat which we have cared for with great responsibility. This is the general opinion from our volunteer crew to Southend RNLI volunteers and all who served on B-567 Percy Garon II'.

Bote Salvavidas de Iquique was formed in 1979 exactly 100 years after Southend RNLI. A desperate incident off the coast of Chile during 1978 where fortunately lives were saved prompted the call for a dedicated volunteer lifeboat service at Iquique.

On August 18, 1979, at the Officers' Club of the Maritime Governorate of Iquique, the first official meeting was held, and the first Board of Directors was elected. Subsequently, by agreement of the volunteers, August 29, 1979, was established as the official founding date. From that date to the present day, hundreds of rescues have been carried out and lives saved. Many of these emergencies had to be faced with the scarcity and limited resources that volunteer institutions have, but with great fortitude and determination on the part of their crews, composed of men and women from the most varied professions, who have chosen to serve the community, with no other reward than duty fulfilled.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things!

Atlantic 21 lifeboat R-9 is at the forefront of Iquique lifeboat station patrolling the Chilean shores keeping the beaches safe and saving lives at sea.

http://www.botesalvavidasiquique.cl/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/iquiquelifeboatstationofficial/

http://www.southendlifeboat.org/

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For further information please contact:

• Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
• Jess Curtis 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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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.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information please contact:

• Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
• Jess Curtis RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
• Julie Rainey RNLI Regional Communications Lead - South East, [email protected] +447827358256
• 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.