Hartlepool RNLI volunteers rescue two people on an inflatable dinghy
Hartlepool RNLI volunteers rescue two people on an inflatable dinghy
Lifeboats News Release
Hartlepool RNLI volunteers were paged at 3.27pm on Saturday 27th June by Humber Coastguard to search for a person on an inflatable dinghy who had been blown out to sea from the beach at Seaton Carew.
RNLI/Tom Collins
Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crewmembers(left to right) Glen Pearson, James White, Jamie Northey and Mark Barker.
The inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' with four volunteer crewmembers launched at 3.42pm and were alongside the two male adult casualties within minutes.
The inshore lifeboat recovered the casualty and a person who had swam out from the beach to assist the person on the inflatable toy.
The casualties were then taken to the beach at Seaton Carew and handed over to the Hartlepool Coastguard team.
Hartlepool lifeboat operations manager Steve Pounder said 'A prompt response from the crew brought the incident to a successful outcome.
An offshore wind can quickly blow inflatables out to sea. Please tether inflatable toys to prevent this situation or just don't bring them to the beach. In this situation it's best to ring 999 and ask for the Coastguard and to keep the casualty in sight'.
Hartlepool RNLI inshore lifeboat helm Mark Barker said 'A quick launch from the Ferry Road boathouse meant we were on scene to recover the casualties who were both none the worse for there experience. We safely handed them over to the Coastguard team on the beach at Seaton Carew.'
The volunteer crewmembers then assisted a personal water craft and its owner from Seaton Carew beach that had suffered mechanical failure to a slipway near Hartlepool Marina'.
The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road lifeboat station at 4.50pm and was refuelled and made ready for service by 5.10pm.
RNLI/Tom Collins
Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crewmembers(left to right) Glen Pearson, James White, Jamie Northey and Mark Barker.
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.
