Busy couple of days for Poole RNLI in blustery conditions
Busy couple of days for Poole RNLI in blustery conditions
Lifeboats News Release
Poole Atlantic was requested to launch on Monday (14 April) after HM Coastguard received reports of a trimaran with one person onboard in difficulty on the breakwater to Poole Quay Boathaven.
The Atlantic arrived onscene and after a short search there was no sign of anybody in difficulty.
Expanding the search into Poole Quay Boathaven / Fishermans dock the person and vessel were located and had managed to self recover onto the slipway.
The lifeboat was then stood down.
Both Poole lifeboats were in action again on Tuesday (15 April) at 4:45 pm after two paddleboarders were being blown quickly from Whitley Lake into the harbour.
The strong breeze was coming from the south east taking the pair further towards the main shipping channel.
The first informant, a family member on the beach, dialled 999 with concern they were getting further out.
The Atlantic launched and on not finding the woman and child, the D class was also requested.
Poole Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to search the shoreline.
Both lifeboats searched the area of Whitley Lake and surrounding areas as further information came through.
A passing vessel had located the pair and taken them to Salterns Marina.
The D class headed to the marina and located the vessel and paddleboarders.
A crewmember went ashore and conducted an assessment and found them to be cold, but otherwise well.
With the pair safely ashore, warming up and waiting for family to arrive, both lifeboats were stood down.
Poole volunteer Paul Glatzel said: There was a strong south easterly wind today, conditions at the launch site of the paddleboarders would have been calm, but as the pair got further offshore they would have been feeling the full strength of the wind.
‘Thankfully a family member spotted them getting further offshore and called 999 to alert the coastguard.
‘As the weather warms up and more people take to the water, we’d remind water users to check the weather and tides, ensure they are wearing the appropriate safety equipment such as a flotation device and carry a means of calling for help.’
This was launch 18 and 19 for the Poole volunteers this year.
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.
