Three callouts in 12 hours for Dunbar RNLI volunteers

The inshore D class lifeboat David Lauder was first launched at 3.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 24 September) to rescue a fellow crew member, who had been out fishing with his young family and a friend, also on the crew, when his small boat suffered engine failure about a quarter of a mile outside Dunbar Harbour. The lifeboat crew were quickly on scene and, after assessing all options, towed the five-metre vessel back to the harbour and helped all casualties safely to shore.

The volunteers had just finished cleaning and putting the lifeboat away when at 4.25pm HM Coastguard paged for further assistance, this time to help a kayaker who had fallen into the water at Pease Bay.

While the inshore lifeboat launched from the harbour, Dunbar’s all-weather lifeboat John Neville Taylor launched from its mooring at Torness Power Station. By the time both boats arrived on scene the man had managed to get himself ashore where he was assessed by coastguard teams from Dunbar and Eyemouth, who also attended. The coastguard helicopter had also been tasked but all assets were stood down at 5.30pm when no further assistance was required.

At 12.10am on Thursday (25 September), the volunteers were paged again, following a report of a person in the water at East Beach, Dunbar. The inshore lifeboat launched and was on scene ten minutes later but was stood down after the person managed to get themselves ashore.

Jamie Forrester, a D class helm who was on all three ‘shouts’, said: ‘Each incident presented different challenges but the callouts demonstrated our ability to respond when needed, whatever the hour.’

If you see anyone in trouble in or around the water call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

Notes to editors

· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.

· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.

· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.

· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.

RNLI media contacts

Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Alexander Williams, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office (available 24 hours) 01202 336789 [email protected]

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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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