A busy weekend for the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat were called out to four separate incidents in less than 24 hours over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ launched with a crew of six at 0445am on Saturday 24 August after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to search an area from Kingsnorth to Chatham after they had received an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). Nothing untoward was seen or received on 406Mhz.
Gravesend lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter had also been tasked and were searching the Thames area.
The lifeboat crews were stood down at 6.15 am after the helicopter located the signal over land.
Sheerness lifeboat was back on station and ready for further service at 7.20am.
The ALB launched again at 3.40pm on Sunday 25 August after being tasked to assist an eight-meter yacht with engine failure that had been blown onto the sea wall at the entrance to Queenborough Harbour.
The lifeboat was quickly on scene and found that the casualty had drifted over the remains of the old Flushing Pier. Having made a very cautious approach the crew were able to get a line on to the yacht which was then towed very gently away from the sea wall and the underwater obstructions and passed into the care of the Queenborough Harbour launch when a further tasking was sent to the ALB from the UK Coastguard.
This call reported that two children had been reported to have been blown out to sea on paddleboards from the Minster Sea front.
The Whitstable lifeboat which had also been tasked made best speed and reported that they were on scene and had recovered both youngsters plus a paddleboard and had landed them safely on the beach. Other than being very cold both were ok.
The ALB was stood down at 4.50 pm and was ready for further service at 5.30pm.
Whilst some of the crew were still on station the all-weather lifeboat was tasked to another incident and launched at 5.50pm to reports of two more children who were in difficulties after their kayaks had overturned off Allhallows.
Making best speed the lifeboat was on scene at 6.10pm and found that the children had fortunately been recovered to the shore by three jet skiers who were now in the process of trying tow one of the kayaks, which had now submerged, without success.
The ALB crew did attempt to recover one kayak but they were also unsuccessful. The second kayak was also presumed to have sunk and was not found.
The casualties were reported to be extremely cold but otherwise ok.
The lifeboat was stood down at 6.50pm and was ready for further service at 7.30pm.
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 146,000 lives.
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