Busy Period Continues at Whitstable RNLI

On Wednesday 8^th July the station’s B-Class lifeboat Lewisco was launched at 7.15pm to a report from the Dover Coastguard of a small inflatable dinghy drifting with 4-persons onboard East of Hampton, Herne Bay.

The lifeboat arrived ‘on scene’ however the coastguard reported that the occupants were now ashore but that the dinghy was still adrift. The lifeboat therefore conducted a search for the craft which was eventually located at Hampton ashore with 6-teenagers who were all safe.

Later in the evening the lifeboat was diverted from an exercise to a report of another dinghy broken down in the vicinity of the old Herne Bay Pier head.

The craft was located just North East of that location and the 4-male adult occupants who were dressed only in shorts were taken onboard the lifeboat and landed ashore along with their craft ashore at Herne Bay Harbour at 08.33pm.. Their craft had suffered a fuel problem.

On Friday afternoon (10^th July) the lifeboat was launched at 3.29pm to a report of a female in the water off Tankerton and commenced a search. However due to the low tide the lifeboat could not search close inshore but fortunately the coastguard reported the possible casualty was now safe onshore and the lifeboat released from the incident.

Shortly afterwards at 3.58pm the lifeboat was tasked to a report of 4-persons on a broken down inflatable craft at Harty Ferry in The Swale West of Whitstable and between Faversham Creek and the Isle of Sheppey.

The lifeboat crew located the casualty craft just West of the entrance to Faversham Creek at Uplees and they were taken onboard and along with their 8-foot craft landed ashore at Harty Ferry on Sheppey. The reason for the engine failure was unknown at the time.

On Sunday the lifeboat was on service again to a report of a kite surfer off possibly in difficulties and a long way offshore from Tankerton.

However after search and check on persons in the area the coastguard reported that a male was safe onshore and the lifeboat ‘stood down’ with the call being deemed a false alarm with good intent.

Advice from Whitstable RNLI to all those venturing onto or in to the sea is that they should always be aware of local weather conditions, wind and tide and in addition if taking small craft afloat that they are vessels suitable for use on the sea, that proper checks have been made of engines and equipment and that lifejackets are worn and suitable means of communications carried such as radio’s or mobile phones in waterproof containers. And whilst it very tempting to go to sea on day’s with high temperatures as seen this week and are forecast for the next few days with minimal clothing it should be remembered that temperatures offshore can be much cooler than onshore and therefore people should take extra clothing.

There have now been 31 calls so far this year for the volunteers at Whitstable RNLI.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [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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