News release
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
Date: 21/08/2009	Rye Harbour 020/2009

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Crew administer First Aid to skippers face

Rye Harbour relief RNLI Lifeboat B762 'Jack & Joyce Burcombe' launched on service on 20/08/2009 at 2.45 pm. Dover Coastguard contacted the Lifeboat Operation Manager at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station to advise him that they had received a telephone call from the skipper of a 4m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), who were experiencing a lot of sea between Hastings and Rye Harbour and were unhappy with the situation but didn't feel that he needed the Lifeboat.

It was felt by Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour, that it would be prudent to launch and escort the casualty in to harbour, a course of action that was agreed with by Dover Coastguard. Lifeboat B762 met the casualty west of Rye Harbour entrance at 2.50 pm. It was noticed that the skipper had a cut to his face, which had been received when he had head butted the steering wheel. The skippers wife was very concerned by their situation almost to the extent of being frightened. Reassurance was given by the crew of Lifeboat B762 and the boat was escorted into Rye Harbour.

The casualty was put on the public slipway at Rye Harbour and they put their boat back on its trailer at 3.15 pm. After they had recovered their boat, both husband and wife came into the boathouse and first aid was given to the skippers face. The Lifeboat was washed down and made ready for service at 3.50 pm.

Tony Edwards, Deputy Launching Authority for Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: ‘this is one of those situations that the crew train on a regular basis for. Today, only 1 in 10 crew members joins the RNLI with a professional maritime occupation.’

Notes to editors

Rye Harbour lifeboat station was established in 1803 operating up until 1928 when it closed following the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Disaster. The Current lifeboat station was re-established in 1966 and is still in operation today. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/ryeharbour

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Steve Tollett, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 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