Southend-on-Sea RNLI launch five times Saturday and Father’s Day Sunday

Saturday 14 June the volunteer’s pagers sounded at 4.15am. Dover Coastguard tasked Southend lifeboat to a person in the water near Tilbury. Southend RNLI volunteers launched the charity’s Atlantic 85, B-885 Julia and Angus Wright at 4.40am with Edward Kemp at the helm. On route to the reported location, Dover Coastguard informed the RNLI crew that the person was now out of the water, Southend lifeboat was stood down and returned to station at 5.30am.

Sunday 15 June (Father’s Day) RNLI pagers alerted the volunteers at 4.35am. Dover Coastguard tasked Southend lifeboat to a dinghy seen drifting 100mtrs off Southend beach. D-904 Sue Sorotos (ILB1) launched at 4.40am with David Hopper at the helm. Shortly after launching an update from the Coastguard revealed the dinghy had made it to shore. D-904 arrived at the reported position at 4.50am to find the dinghy ashore with one male occupant who told the RNLI crew he was not going back out to sea. No further assistance was needed, Southend lifeboat returned to station at 5.00am.

Sunday 15 June 3.20pm the pagers alerted the RNLI volunteers to a Mayday medical emergency at Victoria Wharf Leigh-on-Sea. Southend Atlantic 85 Julia and Angus Wright was on exercise close to the reported position and headed directly to the scene with Edward Kemp at the helm arriving at 3.25pm. A local charter boat Starfish had responded to the Mayday call.

Starfish skipper Angus Browne said: ‘A crew member onboard a yacht was taken ill just off Essex yacht club, so Starfish took the casualty off the yacht & headed into Victoria Wharf where medical assistance was awaiting’.

Southend volunteers assisted Southend Coastguard rescue team until an ambulance arrived. B-885 departed scene at 4pm.

6.45pm 15 June the pagers sounded for the third time on Father’s Day. Dover Coastguard tasked Southend lifeboats B-885 Julia and Angus Wright, and D-818 Len Thorne GM DFC (ILB2) to search for a windsurfer who appeared to be in difficulties off Shoeburyness. B-885 launched at 7.10pm helmed by Edward Kemp, D-818 launched close behind helmed by David Hopper. With good visibility and a light west breeze both the charity’s lifeboats and a Coastguard fixed wing aircraft carried out a two and a half hour search of the surrounding area where the windsurfer was reported to be seen with nothing found. All assets were stood down at 9pm and returned to station.

Nigel Gilchrist, Southend RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The dedicated RNLI volunteers at Southend had a very busy and tiring weekend with the four shouts as well as planned exercises afloat and boathouse duties. No matter what time of day or night, our volunteers are ready to launch and assist people in distress.

‘Every time the pager sounds, teams of lifeboat crew and shore crew stop what they are doing and make their way to the station so the lifeboats can be launched and recovered efficiently. Thanks to all the RNLI volunteers who responded this weekend, and to Angus Browne skipper of Starfish for his quick actions’.

If you see someone in trouble by the coast or at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

For further information please contact:

• Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
• Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Notes to Editors:

• Southend RNLI is one of the busiest coastal stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
• Southend RNLI cover approximately fifteen miles of shore from Shoeburyness to Canvey and beyond.
• For more information, please visit http://www.southendlifeboat.org/

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

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.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.