Four shouts in one day for Cowes RNLI Station

The volunteer crew launched their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 5.45am to support the annual Bramble Bank cricket match, located on the eponymous sandbar in the Solent between Southampton and Cowes. The decades-old match between the Royal Southern Yacht Club and the Island Sailing Club takes place every year at low tide, when the sandbar is exposed.

The Cowes RNLI crew were joined by Calshot RNLI’s inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat crew, who also supported the match. At 7.20am, just after the end of the match, both crews attended to a young man with breathing difficulty on board a RIB on the bank. The man was given a nebuliser, foil blanket and plastic sheeting, and as he had been playing cricket in the water and was very cold, the decision was made to transfer him to Cowes immediately.

Just then, the Cowes lifeboat was called away to another casualty vessel. Calshot RNLI, with the help of attendees at the match, transferred the young man from a private RIB into the lifeboat, and took him to Trinity Landing where he was met by Cowes RNLI shore crew and ambulance paramedics.

Meanwhile, Cowes RNLI made their way to Lepe Spit, where a local dogwalker had spotted a vessel aground and listing badly. The 30ft sailing vessel had two people on board, and with both waves and wind worsening, the decision was made to tow the vessel away from the spit once it was lifted by the rising tide. With one RNLI crew member on board the casualty vessel, the Cowes crew were able to quickly free the boat and guide it out of danger. They then escorted the vessel and its two crew safely to the entrance to Southampton Water. The RNLI crew returned to the station at 9.30am, washed down the boat and made it ready for service.

Helm Libby said:

“Conditions were tricky out on the Solent, with a quick shift in weather which brought strong, cold winds and lumpy seas. I am glad we were able to work with Calshot RNLI to help those who needed us. Both crews did a great job in tricky conditions and coordinated well to carry out two successful rescues. Thank you also to our shore crew in Cowes who assisted with the first casualty.”

Cowes RNLI were paged again at 6.45pm that evening, to a rib in difficulty off Egypt Point. Along with Yarmouth RNLI’s all-weather Severn-class lifeboat crew, who had been on exercise in the area, they recovered seven people from a RIB. They had been on their way from Yarmouth to Southampton when a rogue wave swamped their boat and cut their engine.

The casualties were transferred to Yarmouth’s lifeboat where they could sit inside in the warm, while Cowes RNLI towed the RIB back to Trinity Landing. There, the casualties were met by members of the HM Needles Coastguard team and a waiting ambulance.

Immediately after making the RIB secure on Trinity Landing, both lifeboats attended an incident in Ryde to assist police and HM Coastguard teams. The crew returned to the station at 9.10pm, washed the boat down and made ready for the next shout.

Helm Myles said:

“On days like this, I am especially proud of our crew, who are all volunteers. Some of our crew responded to all four shouts, which meant spending over seven hours assisting with rescues. Thanks also to the other agencies, coastguard, paramedics, police and Calshot and Yarmouth RNLI who worked alongside us. Days like this show the strength and teamwork we build in training, which allow us to work together to save lives at sea.”

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RNLI media contacts

• Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07594051372/ [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789.

About Cowes RNLI Station

Cowes Lifeboat Station is converted from a former HM Customs Watch House, the rear of which is 300 years old. It looks out onto one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways and carries out a range of interesting services every year. It is the only station to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II.