News release
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
25/07/2008	Rye Harbour 031/2008

Twins stranded on the Red Light at Rye Harbour Entrance

Rye Harbour RNLI relief Lifeboat B722 'Beatrice Dorothy' launched at 5.29 pm yesterday (24 July 2008) to two 14 year old twins who had become stranded on the Red Light at Rye Harbour entrance. The Lifeboat arrived four minutes later, recovering the boys into the Lifeboat and returning them to the station.

The boys, who are staying at Frenchman's Beach holiday park, were at the beach with their family. They thought that they would have a paddle which turned into a swim. They swam out to the Red Light but their mother told them to stay put.

Richard Tollett, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat station, said: ‘it was prime conditions for a shout - sunny weather, wind off the land. Although the red light doesn't seem far from the shore, it is a fair distance to swim and the current is strong at the entrance to Rye Harbour. The boys mother had presence of mind to tell them to stay put, the situation could have had a tragic outcome.

Whether we're rescuing an offshore fisherman or a child swept out to sea, the RNLI exists to put life first. The RNLI rescues an average of four young people every day.’

Notes to editors

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 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. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.