Two callouts in one day for Dunbar lifeboat volunteers
Dunbar RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers had their first callouts of 2024 yesterday (Monday 8th January), initially launching for a dog that had fallen from cliffs before coming to the aid of a fishing boat sinking in the harbour.
HM Coastguard tasked the inshore lifeboat (ILB) at 4pm after a dog fell from cliffs at Winterfield Park. The crew were on scene in minutes and, although tragically the dog had not survived, they were able to recover and reunite the pet with its owners. Coastguard teams from Dunbar and North Berwick also attended.
ILB helm Adrian Lavery said: ‘This was a very unfortunate accident and our condolences go to the dog’s owners who were understandably distraught.’
Later, the volunteer crew had just dispersed following a monthly meeting when they were paged again at 8.30pm after a report that a local trawler Spitfire was taking on water and sinking in Dunbar Harbour. It was believed a creel was accidentally pulled up with its catch, causing damage to the wooden hull.
The ILB launched minutes later and came alongside with a salvage pump, which the crew used to stop the Spitfiresinking and enable the 10m vessel’s own pumps to stabilise the boat.
The crew then remained on standby until high water when the trawler could be moved to a safe berth in the harbour. They were finally stood down shortly after 12am.
ILB helm Alan Blair said: ‘Luckily, we had a salvage pump in the lifeboat station and were able to start pumping the water within minutes.’
The ILB was refuelled and ready for its next service at 12.30am.
Notes to editors
Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth. Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.
It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.
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Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
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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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