3 March 2012
There is some fierce weather in the channel this morning, gusts of more than 60 mph are being reported, and winds generally hovering more than Gale Force we understand. So it is a very difficult time for shipping out there.
So just to compound this hectic Lifeboat frontpage even further and wondering about the wisdom of taking a yacht out in this weather, the picture above left shows the Lifeboat crew returning just a few minutes ago as I write...12.20 today monday from yet another call-out...and they appear to be towing or at the very least escorting this yacht into harbour. Visibility is not good so the picture is a bit soft but you just have to take your hat off to these guys and hurl it into the air and celebrate that they are prepared to go out there in horrendous conditions to reach someone in difficulty, risking life and limb in the process. PB
UPDATE re Picture above from Martin Collins Dover RNLI:
Hi Paul, The lifeboat you caught coming into Dover at Lunchtime wasn’t actually ours. It was the Trent class ‘RNLB Esme Anderson’ from our flank station at Ramsgate. I’m not quite sure of the circumstances that led to the yacht needing assistance but it isn’t uncommon for a lifeboat to take a casualty or casualty vessel to a different port dependent on sea conditions/weather and other conditions. A good example of this was the recent silver medal service involving the Dungeness and Dover lifeboats which both ended up taking the disabled yacht into Ramsgate.
Busy time of it for our Lifeboat guys...
Three call outs in a row to the Langdon Bay area for Dover Lifeboat
Dover's volunteer RNLI crew have been called out three times to Langdon Bay in the last fortnight.
Reports of a person cut off by the tide on Wednesday (29th) led to Dover Coastguard requesting the lifeboat. On arrival in the area the lifeboat's inflatable ‘Y’ boat was launched to locate and communicate with the person. Once close inshore and able to speak to the person they found the person was not in difficulties and needed no assistance.
On Friday (2nd) the lifeboat was needed again to assist in the recovery of human remains. The location and nature of the incident meant it involved Coastguards and Police officers from Kent and Port of Dover.
These services followed the [already reported] rescue of a man seriously injured following a fall on 24th February. Despite the close proximity of this area to the port, accessibility limits the options when responding to emergencies. This means the lifeboat can be the best and safest option.
Report of the earlier incident as mentioned above.....
Cliff faller assisted by Dover lifeboat volunteers.
A man who was seriously injured after falling fifty feet from a cliff path near Dover on Friday afternoon (24th) needed helped from a number of emergency responders including Dover’s lifeboat crew.
Dover lifeboat was requested to assist with evacuating the man to safety and launched, under the command of Deputy Coxswain Jon Miell, shortly after 3.30pm. On arrival in Langdon Bay, the lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was launched and two crew members went ashore to assist.
The man was being treated by medics from SECAMB and the Kent Air Ambulance when the lifeboat crew arrived. As the Air Ambulance couldn’t land close to the casualty it was initially planned to use the lifeboat to relay the man to Dover Harbour. However the severity of the man’s injuries meant that this would put him at greater risk and so a RAF helicopter which could winch him directly from the beach was requested.
Whilst waiting for the helicopter and the lifeboat crew and local volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers assisted the medics. When the RAF helicopter arrived he was transferred to the helicopter from the beach and flown directly to a London hospital.
Lifeboat crew member Steve Ladner who went ashore to assist said: “The serious nature of the man’s injuries combined with the terrain made his transfer to hospital a complex task. The falling tide and sea conditions made the transfer by sea a less favourable option than waiting for the RAF helicopter to arrive.”
Deputy Coxswain Jon Miell said: “Whilst we don’t know what caused the man’s fall I would like to use this opportunity to remind people that the areas above and below cliffs can be dangerous with uneven, unstable surfaces and risks of falling debris.”
Super swimmer Sian supports Dover RNLI
Dover teenager Sian Howe has once again shown her support for lifeboats by completing a sponsored swim and raising £315.
To support the charity’s SOS fundraising campaign Sian organised and completed a sponsored swim in which she completed 64 pool lengths (1600m) in one hour.
This is the third year that 15 year old Sian has swum to support the lifeboats and she recently visited the station to present the money raised this year to the crew. During her visit Sian was introduced to the foul weather clothing and lifejackets worn by the crew before being given a tour of the station’s Severn class lifeboat.
Sian, who is a pupil at St Edmunds School, said: “I have always loved the lifeboat and so I enjoy being able to do my bit to support the charity. “
Lifeboat Operations Manager Roy Couzens said: “Sian is an inspiring young person who I was very pleased to be able to meet and thank in person. She looked very much at home aboard the lifeboat dressed in ‘yellows’ and so I wouldn’t be surprised in the future to be welcoming her as a new crew member. “
Pictures and Stories by Martin Collins
Doverforum say a huge well done to Sian,
a great effort indeed.
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