Harwich RNLI rescues two people swept out to sea on an inflatable kayak

The alarm was raised by a member of the public, who saw the two men in difficulty and called 999 to alert HM Coastguard. The station's B class inshore lifeboat Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid, was launched at 9pm and made best speed to the scene. Conditions at the time were fair, with a light breeze, clear skies and smooth water.

On arrival, the volunteer crew located the two men, who were an inflatable kayak and a paddle board, of the type commonly sold in supermarkets. Despite the calm conditions, they were battling a fast-moving tide near the sand bar at the mouth of the Deben and were becoming exhausted. Neither was wearing a lifejacket.

With the tide pushing the lifeboat towards the sand bar in minimum depth water, the crew worked hard to get as close as possible to the two men. After a couple of attempts, they were able to reach both casualties, pull them aboard and check them over.

With both men and their craft safely aboard, the lifeboat made its way to Bawdsey beach, where the casualties were handed over to HM Coastguard's rescue team from Shingle Street. Both were shaken by their ordeal but otherwise unharmed, and told the crew they would not be going out in such a crafts again.

Having saved two lives, the volunteer crew returned to Harwich Lifeboat Station, where the ILB was washed down, refuelled and made ready for service.

Leam Donn, Helm, Harwich RNLI, said: "We were tasked to two casualties on the Deben, aboard an inflatable kayak and paddle board. We got as close as we could, but with minimum depth and a fast tide pushing us towards the sand bar, it took a couple of attempts before both men were able to reach us. The crew did an amazing job getting them safely aboard and checked over before we brought them ashore at Bawdsey."

Leam added: "In conditions like that, the tide can overpower even a strong swimmer in minutes, and both men were already exhausted by the time we got to them. I've no doubt that if we hadn't reached them when we did, this would have had a very different outcome. It's exactly why we always advise that if you are going out on the water to wear a lifejacket and take a means of communication with you."

Notes to Editor

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is the charity that saves lives at sea.

Harwich Lifeboat Station was founded in 1829 and is based on The Quay, Harwich. The station operates two lifeboats: the all-weather Severn class ALB Albert Brown and the B class ILB Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid.