News release
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
Date: 10/08/2009	Rye Harbour 018/2009

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat launches on service for a person in the water

Rye Harbour RNLI relief Lifeboat B762 'Jack & Joyce Burcombe' launched on service today (10/08/09) at 3.18 pm, to a person in the water a half mile south of Pett Level slipway. When RNLI Lifeboat B762 arrived on scene at 3.30 pm the casualty had already made their way to shore.

When RNLI Lifeboat B762 arrived on scene, contact was made with the casualty; a teenage male (about 17 years old) holidaying at Pett Level. He confirmed that he had been out on his kayak which had been holed, causing it to fill with water and sink - his only option was to swim back to shore without the kayak. RNLI Lifeboat B762 left the scene at 3.35 pm, on their way back to station, the crew of Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat recovered the part sunken kayak and arrived back at station at 4.15 pm.

Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: ‘Over half of the 8000 RNLI lifeboat launches each year are to leisure craft users. With this in mind the RNLI have launched a leisure marine fundraising campaign - 'Serious Fun!' Serious Fun aims to increase committed, financial support for the charity among all watersports enthusiasts, so they can enjoy the water confident in the knowledge that the RNLI is never far away should things go wrong. More information is available at www.rnli.org.uk/seriousfun’.

Notes to editors

Photo's courtesy of Rye Harbour lifeboat station
Rye Harbour lifeboat station has been operating since 1966. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/ryeharbour

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Steve, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at news@ryeharbourlifeboat.co.uk or Tim Ash, Deputy Media Relations Manager South East and London on 07785 296252 or tash@rnli.org.uk or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 137,000 lives.

A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland