Busy five days for Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew

The week started early on Monday 18 August when crew were raised from their beds at 3:00am to assist HM Coastguard with a vulnerable person in West Bay. Later that day the volunteers launched at 6:15pm to search for a paddleboarder who had been reported overdue. The crew searched the coastline between Stonebarrow Hill and Seven Rock Point but were unable to find any evidence of the paddleboard or its owner. The crew were stood down at 7:00pm with the shout being classified as a ‘false alarm with good intent.’

At 8:06pm on Wednesday evening 20 August the crew were tasked to assist a 18ft motor vessel which was having engine problems outside of Axmouth harbour. The vessel had issued a PAN-PAN radio message stating that it needed assistance but was not in any immediate danger. Volunteer lifeboat Helm Mark Ellis took the decision to transfer the crew of the casualty vessel to the lifeboat and recover them to Lyme Regis leaving the stricken motorboat securely at anchor until tidal conditions were right for it to be towed into Axmouth by the harbour team. Mark said, ‘The skipper of the motorboat did exactly the right thing by broadcasting a PAN-PAN radio message when his engine began to overheat and misfire. Unfortunately, there were no other vessels at sea in the area to assist so we were called in from Lyme Regis. Once we had made sure the casualty vessel was securely anchored, we brought its crew back to the warmth and safety of the lifeboat station.’

On Thursday 21 Lyme Regis volunteers launched at 3:49pm to assist HM Coastguard teams with an elderly woman who had fallen over on the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth and sustained injuries to her head and arm. Close cooperation between coastguards and lifeboat teams enabled the casualty to be transferred by stretcher onto the lifeboat for the short trip back to Lyme Regis harbour and waiting paramedics. She was later taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. Volunteer lifeboat Helm Tim Edwards said: ‘This shout showed good multi-agency work between the coastguard and the lifeboat crew to extract the casualty quickly and safely. We needed to work fast as the rising tide had almost reached her head as we were placing her in the stretcher.’

The busy week ended on Friday 22 August when lifeboat volunteers were again tasked at 1:17pm to conduct a shoreline search in the vicinity of Golden Cap following reports of a large rock fall. Rock was still falling as they arrived on scene and began searching for anyone injured or cut off by the large pile of debris which had fallen onto the beach. The crew made contact with a kayaker who had witnessed the fall and who advised them that the beach was empty of people when the fall started. Once they were satisfied that no one was in danger the crew were stood down from the search and returned to Lyme Regis at 2:00pm when their Atlantic 8 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne was washed down and refuelled by volunteer shore crew in preparation for its next service call.

The latest launch brings this year’s total number of service calls answered by Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers to 26.

Ends

Notes to editors: Photos:

1. Lyme Regis RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at sea. Photo credit: RNLI/Nick Marks

1. Rock Fall at Golden Cap viewed from Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat. Photo credit: RNLI/Nick Marks

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected]. or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.