Fleetwood RNLI assist fishing boat off Flyde Coast
Fleetwood RNLI assist fishing boat off Flyde Coast
Lifeboats News Release
Fleetwood RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was called last night (Sunday 11 May) to assist a fishing boat that had lost engine power not far from Rossall Point.
The pagers were activated at 7:16pm after a request from HM Coastguard, who had received a call for assistance from the casualty vessel, and the charity’s Inshore Lifeboat Harbet was launched shortly thereafter. Conditions were calm, with negligible wind and clear visibility.
Upon reaching the vessel, the Helm assessed the situation and the casualty vessel’s condition, and decided that due to the state of the tides and the vessel the safest course of action was to take her under tow and recover her to Knott End. The casualty vessel, a 15 foot fishing boat with two persons aboard, had experienced a fuel-related engine failure and, while anchored, had no way to counter the incoming tide and as such was likely to become a hazard to navigation.
Matt Haines, volunteer D-Class Helm on call for the incident, said ‘The casualty said that asking us for assistance was his last call, but when he did it was the right call. Securing his vessel as he did meant we were able to work safely and get him and his companion home.’
Notes to editors
Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.
Photo credit: RNLI/Robert Baines
The RNLI is supported entirely through voluntary donations, and Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to:
http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact David Devereux, Fleetwood RNLI Press Officer, on 07591 675733 / [email protected] Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead , West, on 07786 668829/ [email protected] Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07468 353082 / [email protected]
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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 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 146,000 lives.
