Busy Sunday for Happisburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station

The crews had a good morning training then the pagers sounded at 8pm; HM Coastguard tasked the crew to reports of a paraglider going into the sea off the coast at Bacton.

Russell Pickering the station’s D Class lifeboat was underway by 8.15pm with Pete Walker on the helm and Thomas Hunn, Harry Ronald and Ellis Speirs as crew. The crew started a shore line search up the coast to Mundesley Holiday Camp before turning out to sea then headed back down the coast.

After almost an hour of searching the crew were stood down by the Coastguard who had spoken to the first informant and were happy no one was missing.

The crew then returned to station. As they were beaching the D class the Coastguard called them again and tasked them to head for Walcott beach where there were reports of a person in the sea; Russell Pickering was relaunched and made best speed to Walcott. En route they were told the Bacton Coastguard had removed the person from the water but asked the crew to standby off the beach in case they were needed.

The crew were subsequently stood down and returned to station to clean and refuel the boat ready for the next call, leaving the station around 10.30pm.

Pete Walker, the Helm said: ‘It was great to put our training to good use; I was very pleased with the way my crew worked as one unit to get the jobs done. The public should always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see anything that alarms them at sea or on the beach. Our crews are always happy to check things out, rather than being called too late resulting in a less favourable outcome.'

The RNLI says, when you go to the beach, swim on lifeguarded beaches between the flags, never swim by yourself and always have someone watching you, have means of calling for help. If you get in trouble in the water float on your back with your ears under water and call for help. Enjoy yourselves but be safe.

RNLI Picture caption

The photograph shows Russell Pickering returning to the beach. Credit: Chris Micheal/Happisburgh RNLI.

Notes to editor

Happisburgh Currently Operates:

· D-Class, D - 813 Russell Pickering

· Community Water Safety Team

RNLI media contacts

· Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer Philip Smith: Mobile 07766007936 Email: [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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