Four Calls, Two Days, One Crew: RNLI Lymington Volunteer Crew Answer 24/7
When the call comes in, whatever the emergency, Lymington Lifeboat volunteers come together time and time again to offer a helping hand.
Crew paged: 1.47pm Sunday 13 July, Boat launched: 1.58pm, Crew: Greg Pachany, Phil Baker, Declan O’Riordan, Piers Horobin.
Lymington Lifeboat launched on Sunday 13 July to perform a welfare check on a yacht, with two people on board, that was anchored off the Beaulieu River with engine failure. Multiple 999 and Ch16 Pan-Pan calls from the vessel had alerted HM Coastguard to the yachts distress. The yacht was taken under tow and delivered safely to shore.
Crew paged: 10.56pm Sunday 13 July, Boat launched: 11.12pm, Crew: Declan O’Riordan, Simon Naylor, Asher White, Ed Wallrock
A report of a RIB with no propulsion and two people on board, adrift in the Solent caused the crew to muster late on the same evening. On arrival at the casualty vessel, the lifeboat helm decided that the best course of action was to put a crew member aboard and tow the RIB to a safe haven, in this case Lymington, where Coastguard Rescue Team were ready to offer the appropriate help and safety advice.
Crew-man Ed noted ’Setting out at night without taking essential safety precautions can result in serious incidents. We are happy to have been able to assist these gentleman to safety on this occasion.’
Crew paged: 1.41pm Monday 14 July, Boat launched: 1.56pm, Crew: Dave Hall, Ed Wallrock, Leon Hockley, Jo Styles.
At lunchtime the following day, HM Coastguard passed on information about a 2 meter inflatable boat adrift in the Hurst Narrows and requested Lymington lifeboat locate the boat to ensure no-one was in need of assistance and to remove any hazard to shipping. The crew spotted the craft on the shoreline just east of Fort Albert. Crew member Jo Styles entered the water, confirmed the boat was unmanned and the crew were able to retrieve the boat and hope to reunite it with its owner.
Crew-woman Jo commented ‘It is really crucial that you name your small craft, whether it be kayak, paddle board or tender so that when found unmanned, the emergency services can check in on the owners welfare.’
Crew paged: 7.01pm Monday 14 July, Boat launched: 7.06pm, Crew: Declan O’Riordan, Rob Merrix, Alex Sheppard, Gunnar Christensen.
While preparing for a routine training exercise that evening, Lymington lifeboat was paged by HM Solent Coastguard following a Pan-Pan call from a yacht who had suffered both rigging and mechanical failures. The 10m yacht with two people on board had managed to anchor to the east of Lymington, but with a lee shore and strong winds the yacht was in danger of the anchor breaking loose and being quickly swept up on to the beach.
Once on-scene, the situation was quickly assessed before crew member Gunnar Christensen was put on board to set up a tow. Slow and steady progress was made through the head sea back to Lymington harbour, where the casualty vessel was safely berthed alongside the harbour masters pontoon.
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.