Two calls for Walmer RNLI crews

At 8.35pm last evening, Wednesday 27 May, Walmer's D Class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard II launched after a request from HM Coastguard to assist Dover lifeboat with the rescue of 10 people cut off by the tide at the South Foreland lighthouse near Dover Harbour.

On reaching the scene, the lifeboat met with Dover’s all-weather boat which was holding offshore to pick up some survivor lifejackets. A Walmer crew member was then put ashore to assist a Dover volunteer, and after conducting welfare checks, the casualties, in two groups of five were extracted from the beach, helped into Walmer’s lifeboat and taken to Dover’s ALB. They were then taken to Dover Harbour.

Duggie Rodbard II was recovered back at station at 10.07pm.

Speaking at the debrief, Walmer helm Neil Franks said; ‘I’d like to congratulate both crews for the quick and professional way in which they handled the situation. All of the casualties were fit and needed no casualty care. I would also like to add that we would always encourage anyone undertaking walks along the coast to check local tide times and be aware of coastal conditions.’

The previous day, Duggie Rodbard II had launched 10.20am following reports of an empty yellow paddleboard with the oar still attached drifting through Deal Pier. Crew spoke to a dive boat just north of the pier and were told that they had seen something in the water about 200 yards off Walmer Castle.

A search was carried out back towards the castle but nothing was discovered. The lifeboat then returned north, and after speaking to a paddleboarder recovered a 12 foot tree trunk from the water. A further shoreline search towards Sandown Castle was carried out and nothing else was discovered. The boat was recovered at station at 10.50am.

RNLI Media Contacts

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Hounslow Branch and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]

• Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]

• Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [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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