St Bees RNLI launched in rough seas to reports of person in the water
At 10.40pm St Bees RNLI were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard to locate and assist a person in the water in Whitehaven harbour.
By 10.55pm the lifeboat was launched into rough seas, large gusts of the near gale winds with poor visibility.
With the lifeboat underway, the crew faced harsh winds and large amounts of spray as they headed to Whitehaven harbour as quickly as the conditions allowed. By 11.10pm St Bees RNLI were on scene to help local Whitehaven Coastguard to locate the casualty in the water. W.C.R.T. sent a rescue swimmer into the water who successfully recovered the casualty.
With the casualty safe and well, St Bees RNLI were stood down by Belfast Coastguard. However due to the still rough conditions and poor visibility, the decision was made to moor the lifeboat in the safety of the harbour.
A spokesman for St Bees RNLI said: ‘A shout for a person in the water is something that we often train for and is always a time critical shout. Despite the poor conditions the crew performed their roles with the greatest professionalism and this helped ensure a good outcome for both crew and the casualty.’
Notes to editors
● St Bees lifeboat station has been operating since 1970. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to http://www.rnli.org.uk/StBees
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For more information please email Joe Raymond, St Bees RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer joseph_raymond@rnli.org.uk or Eleri Roberts, Regional Media Officer on 07771941390 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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