Harwich RNLI crew responds to three incidents over Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Harwich RNLI crew responds to three incidents over Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Lifeboats News Release
The volunteer crew of Harwich RNLI set down the Easter eggs and interrupted family dinners as they responded to three separate incidents over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
On Saturday 30 March, the pagers sounded at 11:45pm, prompting the launch of the Harwich all-weather lifeboat (ALB)
Albert Brown to carry out a search of the lower reaches of the River Orwell following several reports of a red flare. Despite nearly two hours of thorough searching, alongside the Felixstowe and Holbrook Coastguard Rescue Teams, no evidence of distress was found. The ALB was stood down at 3:05am, returning to the station and swiftly ready for service by 3:30am.
Adrian Jenner, member of the Harwich crew said: ‘It was a midnight call to action on Saturday (30 March) as we launched the all-weather lifeboat following the sighting of a distress flare up the river Orwell from Harwich Port.
'With favourable weather conditions, light winds and excellent visibility made the river very flat. For two hours, alongside the Coastguard, we conducted an extensive search of the riverbanks. Unfortunately, there was nothing seen or heard, and the ALB was stood down. As the clocks sprang forward, we found ourselves returning to bed at 4am.'
The following day, Sunday 31 March, at 5:45pm, the inshore lifeboat (ILB)
Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid was launched in response to a public report of a dinghy with what appeared to be a person hanging onto the stern, drifting downriver off Wrabness Beach. Upon investigation, the crew discovered that what appeared to be a person was, in fact, a set of wheels hanging over the stern. The crew ensured the dinghy was safely secured above the high-water tide line before returning to the station to prepare the ILB for its next service.
Finally, on 1 April, at 4:06pm, the Harwich ILB launched to assist an inflatable dinghy with two people on board off Manningtree. The dinghy was a tender to a larger boat and the people were unable to reach shore after losing their oars overboard. The ILB located the dinghy, took it in tow to Stour Sailing Club at Manningtree, and handed it over to the Holbrook Coastguard Rescue Team before standing down and returning to the station.
David Thurston, Launch Authority at Harwich, said: 'Whilst relaxing over a bank holiday lunch with friends, and thinking it was going to be a busy day with the RNLI, the pager went off for a tasking request from the Coastguard.
'Leaving the lunch I phoned the Coastguard to establish the tasking and authorised the launch of the ILB. Being close to high water there would be sufficient water to navigate safely up to the incident. The casualty was quickly located and the ILB crew towed them to the Stour Sailing Club as this was the safest option as we cold not leave them with our any means of propulsion.'
Notes to Editor
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Harwich RNLI is based on The Quay, Harwich. The lifeboat station was founded in 1829 and the volunteer crew use an all-weather Severn class lifeboat (ALB) The Albert Brown and B class lifeboat (ILB) Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact Adam Prescott, volunteer RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer 07881 286312 [email protected]
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.
