Helicopter scrambled during dramatic cliff rescue near Lynmouth
Minehead’s Atlantic 85 and D class volunteer lifeboats launched in challenging conditions on Saturday evening, coming to the aid of two walkers cut off by the tide close to Sillery Sands near Lynmouth.
Responding to a pager alert at 4.19pm, the Atlantic 85 was first to launch at 4.31pm followed later by the D-Class. Crews endured a long passage to Lynmouth in Force 5 seas, with significant swell from the competing wind and tide.
Crews completed a shoreline search around the Foreland Point area due to imprecise information regarding the location of the casualties.
Upon arrival at scene, the Atlantic 85 Helm Sean Phillips saw that they had attempted to self-rescue some distance up the perilous cliffside and that a rescue from sea would be impossible, summoning the assistance of Coastguard helicopter 187 from its base at St. Athan.
Upon arrival, Coastguard 187 winched both casualties to safety, with Minehead RNLI’s Lifeboats standing by for safety. Both volunteer crews then returned to Minehead in time for a belated evening meal with friends and families.
D class helm Jake Sanderson commented “We’re pleased that the casualties knew to call HM Coastguard immediately on 999 to summon help, but this rescue illustrates that you should always check tide times to ensure your coastal walk doesn’t end in a coastal calamity”.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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