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Multi-agency rescue to a yacht on fire in Poole harbour

Lifeboats News Release

Poole Lifeboats were requested to launch just before 11pm last night (Saturday 13 April) to a report of a yacht on fire. Swanage Shannon class all-weather lifeboat was also tasked to assist.

Night shot from the lifeboat of Yacht fire

RNLI/Poole Lifeboat

Yacht on fire Poole Harbour
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The vessel a 24ft yacht was reported to be off Lake Road slipway, the lifeboats were swiftly away and arrived on scene to find the yacht well alight.

Conditions in the harbour were still with a slight breeze from the south west.

From the shore, on scene Coastguards had eyes on the casualty, he had jumped overboard and had swum to another boat, where he had been clinging on.

Poole lifeboat crew recovered him from the boat and carried out casualty care, the casualty was very cold, and oxygen was administered.

The casualty confirmed that he was the only person onboard the stricken vessel.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue were also on scene and an ambulance had been requested to attend.

The lifeboat volunteers took the casualty ashore where he was transferred into the care of the waiting ambulance crew and taken to hospital.

The D class lifeboat returned to station, whilst the Atlantic stood by watching over the vessel as it burnt down to the water.

When all safe and secure, the lifeboat returned to station and was washed down, refuelled and the crew had a debrief. The lifeboats were ready for service by 1.30am.

This was the 17th and 18th launch for the station this year.

Swanage lifeboat left the scene at 12.33am and was back on the slipway at 1.30am.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Anne-Marie Clark: [email protected]


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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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.

About the author

Anne-Marie Clark
Lifeboat Press Officer, Poole Lifeboat Station

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