West Mersea RNLI deployed on double shout

Whilst out on this shout, at approximately 6pm, a further call came in from the Coastguard about a vessel in distress, in relatively close proximity to a sandbar. The crew of the boat had pressed the DSC button on their radio to initiate a MAYDAY call. They had been following a navigation route they had used previously, but this time the boat had struck the sand bar, had rapidly started taking on water and was sinking.

Upon arrival in choppy conditions, the volunteer crew discovered an almost fully submerged vessel with two adults and a young child on board, all of who were wearing buoyancy aids.

The lifeboat was not able to initially reach the vessel as the water was too shallow. Two lifeboat crew members were sent into water, and waded/swam to the casualty vessel. They found the three casualties huddled in the companionway of the boat trying to keep above water, but still waist deep.

The lifeboat attempted approach through various routes to find deeper water, and eventually were successful in this. At this point, the child was lifted onto the lifeboat, to receive casualty care (whilst the water was relatively warm, all three casualties were starting to shiver and show signs of getting cold). The lifeboat pulled away to give care to the casualty. Reassurance and support was given throughout this period by crew to the remaining casualties.

The lifeboat then re-approached the stricken vessel and a second casualty was brought on board. This part of the rescue was challenging, engaging three out of four crew members. One crew and one casualty remained on the vessel.

It was at this point that the Coastguard helicopter arrived. The decision was made to rush the child and adult casualty to Mersea lifeboat station, to meet ambulance crews for ongoing care. This allowed the Coastguard helicopter to winch the remaining casualty and crew from the boat, which was at this stage all but sunk due to rising tide.

The helicopter winchman was lowered onto the boat, securing the casualty and lifting them safely into the helicopter, before returning for remaining lifeboat crew member. Both were then flown to a nearby field, where the helicopter landed and was met by coastguard crew on the ground. The helicopter departed back to its base to ready itself for redeployment.

The Coastguard transported the casualty and remaining crew member via road to West Mersea lifeboat station, where ambulance crew were attending to the other casualties. Two of them had swallowed water, so were receiving extended care.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat Just George then went back to the vessel to mark its position in the water, to prevent it becoming a hazard to shipping. All crew then returned to the lifeboat station. The casualties had lost all their belongings in the boat, including phones and car keys, so lifeboat crew remained at the station until 10.15pm when a family member was able to collect all three casualties, who had been signed off by the ambulance crews.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Claire Hurley, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI North and East, [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for North East and East England, 07824 518641, [email protected]

Richard Grange, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for North East and East England, 07483 112015, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.