Late-night rescue for Mudeford RNLI as broken-down speedboat drifts offshore

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Henrietta H, and crew, launched at 10.27pm and began searching the reported area. The casualty vessel was eventually located south of Hengistbury Head, where the wind and tidal current were carrying it further out to sea towards Swanage.

Although the casualty was wearing a lifejacket, the vessel had no navigation lights and no provisions on board. The alarm had been raised using a mobile phone, but communications were poor.

The crew assessed the situation and established a tow, bringing the casualty vessel safely back to Mudeford Lifeboat Station. The casualty was recovered safe and well.

Mudeford RNLI volunteer Helm Pete Dadds said, ‘This incident highlights how quickly you can get into difficulty, especially at night and when you’re being pushed offshore. A mobile phone isn’t always reliable at sea, so we’d strongly recommend carrying a VHF radio or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Both can make a real difference in helping us find you quickly if things go wrong.’

Mudeford RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Steve Doe, added, ‘We are relieved the casualty was recovered safe and well, but this was a situation that could have had a much more serious outcome. The boat was drifting further and further out to sea.

‘Before heading out on the water, we would always advise ensuring your boat is well maintained and regularly serviced and that you have provisions aboard should things go wrong. Always have a reliable means of communication. We would also recommend avoiding nighttime but if you must head out when it’s dark – your vessel should have the appropriate navigation lights.’

The RNLI reminds all water users to check weather and tide conditions before heading out, ensure their vessel is properly equipped, and always carry suitable safety equipment.

The Mudeford RNLI Atlantic 85, Henrietta H, has launched 45 times this year so far and 77 times in 2025.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Robert King, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Mudeford RNLI: [email protected], 07810 637471

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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