Busy bank holiday Monday for West Kirby RNLI

At 6.46am on Monday 25 August, the volunteer crew of West Kirby RNLI were requested to launch by HM Coastguard after Hoylake RNLI had established a tow on their return from a previous shout. The vessel had been found drifting towards the Mersey shipping lane.

Hoylake had assessed that a tow was necessary as it was the safest way to assist, given the potential danger to navigation. West Kirby’s D class lifeboat, Leonard Pownall, launched and rendezvoused with Hoylake lifeboat at HE3 at approximately 7.15am.

West Kirby’s volunteer crew then took over the tow and brought the vessel down the channel towards West Kirby Sailing Club moorings, as it was identified as the nearest safe and suitable location to secure the vessel.

Due to the low state of tide, West Kirby lifeboat had to hold position in the channel for four hours until there was enough water to secure the vessel safely to a mooring.

Whilst holding in the channel, the crew were diverted to reports of two individuals and their dog at risk of being cut off by the incoming tide near Tansky’s Rocks. The lifeboat anchored the casualty vessel and went to investigate. On arrival, the crew confirmed that the group had made it safely back to shore.

The tow of the initial vessel then resumed, with it being secured to a mooring by 11.30am. A description of the vessel was passed to the Coastguard so the owner could be identified.

At 10.22pm that evening, the Coastguard requested the launch of West Kirby lifeboat alongside Hoylake RNLI’s hovercraft, Hurley Spirit, to begin a search from Bird Island eastwards for a missing person reported chest deep in water near Hoylake. The crew were stood down once it was confirmed the individual had been located safely.

The lifeboat returned to station to be cleaned, refuelled and made ready for service by 11.55pm.

Rich Diamond, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said:

‘This proved to be a long day for our crew with three separate shouts from early morning to late into the evening. I’d like to extend my thanks for all of the hard work and time that has been given today, with time spent away from family and friends on the bank holiday.

‘I’d also like to remind the public that West Kirby Lifeboat Station is only manned during operations and is not staffed at any other times. If you or anybody else is in difficulty at the coast, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

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For more information please contact Eve Kemp RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or 07446888713.

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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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