First shouts for new crew in busy few days for New Brighton RNLI!
The end of August proved anything but quiet for New Brighton RNLI, who had three shouts in four days.
The last weekend in August might have indicated that summer was coming to an end, but the taskings for New Brighton’s volunteer crew certainly were not. Beginning on the afternoon of Friday 29 August, the pagers sounded at approximately 16:40 to reports of a vessel in need of assistance, with two persons on board, following a MAYDAY call.
Responding quickly, volunteer crew of New Brighton RNLI’s Atlantic-85 lifeboat, Charles Dibdin, launched at New Brighton beach and were on scene almost immediately. Upon arriving on scene, the helm assessed the situation and, considering all available options, and with agreement from the casualty vessel, decided that establishing a tow was the safest course of action.
The vessel was towed to Tranmere moorings, where it was safely secured. The two persons onboard were transported to shore, where they were met by awaiting Coastguard units. The lifeboat returned to base and was washed down ready for service once again.
On Sunday 31 August, the lifeboat launched on exercise to welcome the BAP Union Peruvian tall ship, a training ship for the Peruvian Navy, into the River Mersey. Whilst afloat, a tasking came in from HM Coastguard to reports of an incident in the Pier Head vicinity in Liverpool. The B-class lifeboat was assisted on scene by Marine Fire One, Mersey Fire and Rescue’s SAR unit. The incident was resolved shortly afterward and the volunteer crew headed back to station to prepare for service once more.
It was a poignant tasking for one New Brighton RNLI crew member, Benjamin Marsh, as it marked his first shout on board the inshore lifeboat. Ben has been progressing through his training very well, and this next milestone marks the beginning of what all at New Brighton hope will be a decorated service at station.
Later on Sunday evening, some of New Brighton’s crew, including Ben and his family, were privileged to be welcomed aboard the BAP Union tall ship for a private tour.
Ben, affectionately known at station as ‘Swampy’, didn’t have to wait long for his second shout either. Hours later, in the early morning of Monday 1 September, at approximately 03:15, the pagers sounded once again. Tasked to reports of a missing male in Liverpool, suspected to be in the water, HM Coastguard requested New Brighton RNLI carry out a shoreline search from Crosby radar tower, heading north. The incident was concluded when the casualty was eventually located safely ashore.
Lee Arnall, LOM at New Brighton, said:
‘This was a busy weekend indeed for our volunteer crew, who performed magnificently across a range of tricky taskings. Seeing the progression of our newer recruits is a joy, as they’ve all worked so hard to reach the points they are at now, and they are rightly seeing the results of that hard work. They are testament to the wonderful training they have had from the RNLI, and their dedication to saving lives at sea.
Congratulations must go to Ben – Swampy. He’s waited a little while for his first tasking on the boat, I don’t think he was expecting to get two in such a short space of time! He performed admirably, and I’ve no doubt this will continue in future taskings.’
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
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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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