84 passengers brought to safety from grounded vessel
Just before 13.00 on Monday 14 July 2025 the passenger vessel, Cockney Sparrow, with 84 passengers on board, lost power and steering as it approached Kew pier. The craft ended up aground on the Kew Bank on a falling tide.
The PLA launch Richmond attended soon after to assess the situation. Initially it was planned to wait for the tide to turn and float the vessel off so it could be escorted to Kew Pier, 300m away. It was a very warm afternoon, most of the passengers were on the top deck, exposed to the strong sunshine. As the tide was still not turning the Richmond started to evacuate some of the passengers. Soon after, the coastguard requested assistance from the RNLI. Chiswick lifeboat arrived at 13.35 and evacuated more passengers. The tide then turned and the Cockney Sparrow began to refloat; the captain requested immediate assistance from the lifeboat as he had no control. Commander Jack Allman, with commander Mark Finnis and crew Kyle James set up an alongside tow and brought the Sparrow to a secure mooring on Kew Pier.
Volunteer lifeboat crew Kyle James went ashore to assist with the evacuation of the passengers.
Jack Allman commented ‘Due to the low rainfall in recent weeks there is very little fluvial flow so the low tides are lower than normal. Fortunately the combined resources of the PLA and the RNLI lifeboat were able ensure that all passengers were safely landed at Kew Pier and were able to continue their day out.’
Chiswick RNLI lifeboat station is the second busiest in the UK and Ireland. Since The RNLI search and rescue service on the Thames started in 2002, Chiswick Lifeboat has attended over 5,000 incidents and saved 193 lives. The RNLI is entirely funded by public donations.
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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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