Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station

News release

Issued by Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

All at sea for overdue 5 metre Rigid Inflatable Boat.


Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B-727, launched on service today (28/02/2008) at 6.30 pm to a 5 metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which had been reported as overdue. The RIB with blue tubes and a white hull launched at Rye Harbour around 2 pm and was heading to Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour with three people onboard.


Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat B-727 headed to the cliffs at Fairlight where they started their search at 6.44 pm heading west towards Hastings. When they reached Hastings they turned east searching back to Rye Harbour while Coastguard teams were searching towards the west.

Dover Coastguard extended the search area, requesting the launch of Hastings RNLI all-weather and inshore Lifeboats as well as Eastbourne RNLI all-weather Lifeboat. The Coastguard Spotter plane Whisky Bravo was scrambled and joined the search at 7.24 pm.

During the search, information was received by Dover Coastguard that a RIB fitting the description was seen passing the lifeboat house at Hastings at about 4 pm.

The RIB was found tied to groynes on the shore at Cooden Beach Hotel. Three individuals were found safe ashore. Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat was released from the search at 7.42 pm along with all parties involved in the search.

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

‘Today’s service resulted in the south coast from Rye Harbour to Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour being searched for a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), which was located within 60 minutes of the search being started.

Regular training is vital to allow volunteers to go to sea and save lives. It costs an average of £1,000 a year to train each volunteer crew member. As a charity the RNLI is funded through voluntary contributions.’

 

END

Notes to editors

  1. There are over 230 lifeboat stations strategically placed around the UK and Republic of Ireland. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews, and since 2001, its lifeguards, have saved over 137,000 lives.
  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.

    • Vision


    To be recognised universally as the most effective, innovative and dependable lifeboat service.Royal National Lifeboat Institution headquarters:

    West Quay Road
    Poole
    Dorset
    BH15 1HZ
    Tel 0845 1226999
    Fax 0845 1261999