Multiple shouts for Southend RNLI during summer solstice weekend
Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers were called out nine times on Saturday 21 June and four times on Sunday 22 June to people cut off by the tide, pleasure boats with problems, and missing people.
Saturday 21 June (2025) people flocked to the coast to enjoy the beautiful weather and the longest day of the year.
Southend beaches were packed with sun seekers and mid-afternoon saw the turn of the tide.
RNLI hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine was tasked to multiple incidents where people had been cut off by the incoming tide.
The volunteer crew were kept busy for three hours rescuing 13 adults and children that were having difficulties reaching shore, many with their feet cut by the sharp oyster and mussel shells and feeling cold.
All casualties were assessed and taken safely to shore to be treated if necessary by HM Coastguard rescue teams.
Southend RNLI Atlantic 85, B-885 Julia and Angus Wright was tasked four times over the weekend. Saturday 11.50am assisting with a search for missing people that had been swimming from a boat and drifted out of sight, the two people had lifejackets on and were spotted by another vessel then taken back to their boat.
B-885 second tasking at 12.20pm was while on exercise alongside the annual Nore yacht race, B-885 assisted a yacht that had been dismasted, placing an RNLI volunteer onboard the yacht to help the casualty bring the mast onboard and secure it, the owner of the yacht motored back to port under its own power.
Southend inshore lifeboat D-904 Sue Sorotos (ILB1) was tasked at 5.50pm Saturday to search for two people in the water west of Southend pier. Coastguard rescue helicopter 163 was also tasked to the search. Southend ILB1 and Rescue 163 covered a wide area both east and west of the pier, the RNLI volunteers also spoke with several yachts in the area, with nothing seen or found at 6.45pm all assets were stood down.
Sunday 22 June B-885 was tasked to two people out by the tide line at Shoeburyness during low tide. Both people made it to shore before the lifeboat arrived.
The second tasking at 5.38pm to a broken down motorboat near the Blacktail spit, the casualty vessel reported to no longer need assistance while B-885 was on route.
The final tasking while Julia and Angus Wright was while returning from the Blacktail spit 10 miles away to a search for seven people reported to be in trouble being swept out to sea.
Southend ILB1 D-904 Sue Sorotos was also tasked to help search for the missing people. With both the charity’s lifeboats searching the reported area near Southend pier, Dover Coastguard stood the volunteers down after receiving information that this was a confirmed hoax call.
Stay safe at the beach. Always check the tide times for the area you are visiting, high and low water times. Wear appropriate footwear and take a means of calling for help.
If you walk out on the exposed flats during the outgoing tide, make sure you head back to shore before low tide. During neap tides the water does not go out as far as a spring tide, often people walk out during neap tides expecting the tide to recede further not knowing the water is already flooding in trapping them.
If you see someone in trouble, 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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