Fleetwood RNLI assists speedboat in Morecambe bay
Fleetwood’s inshore RNLI lifeboat was launched on Sunday (5 May) to assist a speedboat which had suffered mechanical failure near the Wyre Light.
The lifeboat was launched at approximately 1.55pm and on arrival at the casualty vessel, the volunteer crew assisted with dropping the speedboat’s anchor in an attempt to make it safe before recovering two persons and bringing them back to shore.
After a full assessment of the situation and position of the casualty speedboat, it was decided to await the turn of tide and then recover the speedboat directly on the grounds that it would become a danger to shipping if left for a commercial tow. The lifeboat was therefore launched again at 5.15pm and recovered the casualty vessel to the Knott End slipway.
One volunteer on the lifeboat’s crew was Jonathan Davies, who had just returned to Fleetwood after bringing Cunard’s latest cruise ship, the Queen Anne, into port at Southampton and whose pager went off as he was attempting to buy groceries.
Jonathan said: ‘It was a bit of a switch going from the Queen Anne to the D class, but what she lacks in comfort she certainly makes up for in handling!’
Notes to editors
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Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.
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The RNLI is supported entirely through voluntary donations, and Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact David Devereux, Fleetwood RNLI Press Officer, on 07591 675733 / [email protected] Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, West, on 07786 668829/ [email protected] or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728315 / [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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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.