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Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station

News release

Issued by Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

DATE 23/02/2008 TIME 02:00 AM    REFERENCE:SMT/080223/010

Two lads rescued from car stuck in water filled gulley, with tide rising fast at Rye Harbour .


Friday 22 February 2008 at 11.39 pm Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat crew were assembled to rescue two lads from a car that had gone into a water filled gulley at Rye Harbour.


The alarm was raised by the Harbour Master, Carl Bagwell at 11.36 pm after seeing two people waving from the car, which was in a water filled gulley, with the tide rising fast; the situation was made worse by a tidal surge .

The two lads managed to get out of the car, but were stranded in the water on the salt marsh and disorientated in the dark.

The crew led them back to safety (one needed to be carried after collapsing), where they were taken to the locker room, with the heating on full, as it was suspected they were suffering from hypothermia .

The ambulance service was called and both casualties were taken to  Hastings Conquest Hospital.

Richard Tollett, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour said:

'The two lads were extremely lucky that the Harbour Master noticed them.  If they had not been spotted, the outcome could have had tragic consequences'.

END

Photo: Car in flooded gulley

Notes to editors

  1. Photo's courtesy of Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station.
  2. The RNLI is a registered charity and continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for income.

 

For more information please contact Steve Tollett, the RNLI lifeboat press officer at Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station on email: Press Officer.

  • The RNLI is a registered charity that saves lives at sea.
  • It provides, on call, the 24-hour service necessary to cover search and rescue requirements to 100 nautical miles out from the coasts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
  • There are over 230 lifeboat stations.
  • RNLI Beach Lifeguards operate in the south and south west of England.
  • The RNLI further saves lives through sea and beach education.
  • The RNLI depends on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income.

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