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Tower RNLI launch to sinking vessel on the Thames

Lifeboats News Release

Just after 1am on Thursday 25 September, Tower RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch to reports of a vessel sinking near Battersea on the River Thames, with two people on board that had raised the alarm.

Tower & Chiswick RNLI moored up on scene.

RNLI/Tower

Tower & Chiswick RNLI moored up on scene.
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The lifeboat made best safe speed to the scene, where crew quickly saw that the vessel had taken on a substantial amount of water.

Duty RNLI Thames Commander James Williams said, ‘The immediate priority was the welfare of the two people on board, who had been doing their best at attempting to control the flooding by running pumps in the lower deck.
With little ventilation in the space, our volunteer crew identified a risk of carbon monoxide exposure due to the build-up of fumes from the machinery.’

Chiswick RNLI were also requested to attend, as it appeared Tower lifeboat may have been diverted to a separate incident during the response.

With the vessel secured on a mooring, the two casualties made their way safely ashore.

Tower Lifeboat was stood down at 2:23am and was back at station near Waterloo Bridge made ready for service by 2:37am.

Notes to Editor

Tower RNLI, based in the heart of London, is our busiest lifeboat station. The crew are on the station 24/7, 365 days a year- ready to respond to any incident immediately.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Ashley Bard, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected]

· Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.


On board the casualty vessel looking at water in the hull.

RNLI/Tower

Making way to casualty vessel on the River Thames.
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Tower volunteer looking into the deck analysing the water ingress.

RNLI/Tower

Tower volunteer looking into the deck analysing the water ingress.
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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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Ashley Bard
Lifeboat Press Officer, Gravesend

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