Littlestone RNLI rescues two people on board fishing boat in Folkestone Harbour
Two people onboard a small fishing boat that was disabled within Folkestone Harbour were brought to safety by volunteer lifeboat crew from Littlestone RNLI (Wednesday 10th January)..
Littlestone RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, The Jean McIvor, was requested to launch by HM Coastguard at 11am to a fishing boat that was without power in Folkestone Harbour and the crew had no means of returning to shore.
With temperatures barely above freezing, and a bitter south easterly wind adding to the sea swell, the crew quickly made its way across Hythe Bay to Folkestone. Once the crew had located the vessel and had confirmed all crew onboard were safe, a decision was made to remove a female casualty who was suffering from seasickness and the effects of the cold. Once the casualty had been taken to shore and handed over to the Coastguard, the lifeboat returned to tow the boat’s tender and second crew member to safety. Although the stricken vessel was within the harbour, the seas remained rough and the freezing cold conditions had caused the two fishing boat crew to become concerned for their own safety.
Once the fishing boat crew were both safely on dry land, the Littlestone lifeboat began the journey home. Because of the sea state and strength of the onshore wind the helm radioed ahead for the shore crew to make ready for a net recovery. This is a procedure where the lifeboat is driven bow-first onto its carriage and caught in a net. It's most often deployed when seas are rough or when time is of the essence. Once safely back on land the lifeboat is then lifted out of the carriage, turned round on a turntable and the tractor driver repositions the carriage so that the lifeboat is facing the right way for its next deployment. The lifeboat is then washed down by the shore crew and refuelled ready again for service.
Commenting on the call out, Littlestone RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Matt Crittenden said: ‘The fishing boat crew did the right thing by calling for help as soon as they realised that they had lost the oars to their tender and therefore had no way of safely getting back to shore. Even within the harbour conditions were extremely cold and difficult and I am thankful to all the volunteers who answered the call in such conditions. This includes our volunteer shore crew who launched the lifeboat and later recovered and prepared it again for service it in very cold weather. We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea that you should always check the weather first and wear a lifejacket. If you get into difficulty or see somebody else in trouble on the water or along the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’
Wearing a lifejacket will buy you precious time until help arrives. Correctly fitted and maintained, a lifejacket will help you to float even if you’re unconscious. It dramatically increases your chances of survival if you fall into the water. If you’re in the sea and you’re wearing a lifejacket, research shows you’re four times more likely to survive.'
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Key facts about the RNLIThe Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLIFor 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 enquiriesMembers of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
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.