Dangers of Inflatables highlighted by Whitstable RNLI

Lifeboat Helmsman Andy Williams said “The reported location of the casualty was near to the end of our area and as always with this sort of incident there is great concern for the individuals involved and we made the best possible speed to the location. However on arrival around 10-minutes after launching we found that the coastguard helicopter had already located the occupant of the dinghy, a 10-year old girl as it turned out and winched her aboard the helicopter”.

“Having ascertained there were no other persons involved we located and recovered the inflatable dinghy nearly 2-miles East of Reculver and ¾-mile offshore”.

Rachel Goff, Water Safety Advisor at Whitstable RNLI said “With the summer months and the holiday season almost upon us and people heading for the beaches we cannot stress enough the dangers people need to be aware off when venturing on or into the water.”

“Sunday’s incident with an inflatable highlights the risks involved in using such craft be they dinghies, beach toys or paddleboards. Offshore breezes and ebb tides can rapidly, as was the case on Sunday, carry people out to sea and as with this incident the casualty was located a considerable distance from the shore”.

“Our advice is that people must take note of the weather and tidal conditions before venturing on or into the sea and be prepared for changes in the weather which can occur quite quickly. If people must use inflatable beach toys then the advice that has always been given here at Whitstable RNLI is that they should be held with a line by someone on shore and children, should never be left unsupervised”.

“In addition those using paddleboards or indeed any form of small craft should always wear some form of buoyancy aid and carry a means of communication such as a phone or radio in a waterproof bag. Anyone going onto the water should inform someone onshore of their intentions, and should you have the misfortune to be carried out to sea then it is best to stay with your craft as it will be much easier to locate by the lifeboat or coastguard crews”.

“By taking a few simple precautions we hope that all can enjoy a happy day at the beach rather than it end in a possible tragedy”.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

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