A busy weekend for the RNLI in Scotland with 18 shouts
Across the weekend, 15 RNLI lifeboat stations launched across Scotland to respond to 18 shouts to those in need.
On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June, RNLI lifeboats in Scotland launched 18 times to those in need, including to a person in the water at Saltcoats. Troon RNLI were paged by Belfast Coastguard at 5:09am on Saturday and launched shortly afterwards to reports of a person in the water.
While on route, the crew received details that the casualty had been helped onto nearby rocks thanks to a member of the public, and both individuals were being supported by a member of the coastguard team. Upon arrival, the crew assisted all three individuals into the lifeboat, before taking them back into Saltcoats harbour.
In Shetland, Lerwick RNLI launched on Sunday morning to respond to a yacht in this years’ Shetland Races, just minutes before 35 racing yachts assembled to set off across the North Sea to Bergen.
The 12-metre Norwegian yacht with five persons on board had fouled its propeller in creel lines near the Bressay marine and contacted the UK Coastguard to request assistance.
Lerwick RNLI arrived on scene and attached a line and took the stricken vessel under tow across the harbour. However, soon after taking up the tow, the crew of the yacht were able to free the rope from their boat’s propeller and restore engine power again.
The morning call-out is thought to be Lerwick RNLI’s 900th shout since the first RNLI lifeboat took up service in Lerwick Harbour in July 1930.
Portpatrick RNLI were tasked on Saturday 24 June to a stricken fishing vessel with one person on board, approximately 2 miles south of Portpatrick.
Upon arrival on scene and an assessment of the situation, the casualty vessel was taken under tow by Portpatrick RNLI to the harbour where HM Coastguard Portpatrick provided further support. The lifeboat was then returned to the station and made ready for next service.
At Dunbar RNLI, volunteer crew responded to a shout on Sunday 25 June involving a boy who had fallen approximately 15ft off rocks near the town’s harbour. Once the lifeboat was on scene, two volunteer crew went ashore to assist medics and provide a neck brace to help stabilise the casualty.
ILB Helm, Alan Blair, says: ‘Owing to the tricky location of the casualty and the fact that we were dealing with an incoming tide, on the advice of the paramedics on scene it was decided that the safest option was to move the casualty by lifeboat to where he would be better assessed by medics.’
The crew were able to transfer the casualty to the waiting lifeboat, and return to Dunbar harbour where he was passed to the waiting ambulance crew.
In addition to operational activity, RNLI crews were hosting events, including the Stromness RNLI Open Day, and attending Edinburgh Pride and the Royal Highland Show over the weekend.
RNLI lifeguards were also patrolling eight lifeguarded beaches across Scotland.
Notes to editors
· On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June, 15 RNLI lifeboat stations launched to respond to 18 shouts across Scotland. The stations were: Anstruther, Broughty Ferry, Buckie, Fraserburgh, Kinghorn, Lerwick, Mallaig, Montrose, Peterhead, Portpatrick, Portree, Stromness, Thurso and Troon.
RNLI media contacts
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
Jaye Mackay, RNLI Media Engagement Placement for Scotland, 07929 673286, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 142,700 lives.
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