Men in sea spark combined rescue effort by Cowes RNLI
Two men thrown into the sea from their 21-foot dinghy by a freak wave were the subject of a rescue last Friday (20 October) evening by the RNLI’s Cowes lifeboat and a Red Funnel Red Jet passenger catamaran.
The incident occurred in Southampton Water, north of the River Hamble entrance. Despite fading light, they were fortuitously spotted by a passing Red Jet, clinging to the sides of the dinghy.
The men subsequently swam clear of the dinghy so that the Red Jet could more easily retrieve them from the water. After being landed at Southampton’s Town Quay their condition was fully assessed by two members of the lifeboat crew. Also waiting at Town Quay were members of Hillhead coastguards.
Meanwhile the men’s dinghy was brought into Southampton by a local harbour launch.
Cowes lifeboat, which had launched at 5.48 pm returned to station at 7.20 pm.
Ends
Media contacts:
For more information please telephone George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Press 07530 254052; or Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South east and London) on 07785 296252, paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk Alternatively contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press
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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.