St Bees RNLI launch to reports of person in the water off Whitehaven Harbour

Due to the nature of the shout the crew were summoned on immediate readiness with the lifeboat in the water by 10.30pm. With the lifeboat underway, the crew made contact with the Coastguard who briefed them that the first informant had spotted what they thought was torch light from the water and they were concerned that this was a person signalling for help.

Going off this information, the lifeboat crew were tasked to carry out an area search around North Pier at Whitehaven Harbour to quickly locate and assist anyone in need.

By 10.40pm the lifeboat had arrived at Whitehaven, however they were then informed by the Coastguard that the Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team who were on scene, had found the source of the light to be a string of lights from fishermen.

The lifeboat was then stood down and headed back to the station to be recovered and was made ready for the next service by 11.07pm.

Dick Beddows, Lifeboat Operations Manager for St Bees RNLI says: ‘A shout for a person in the water is something that is a top priority. Tonight demonstrated that although on this occasion we were not required, the importance of being ready to respond in a professional manner at a moment’s notice to time critical incidents.’

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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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