RNLI Thurrock

19/02/08

RNLI lifeboats rescued 7,834 people in 2007

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) annual lifeboat and lifeguard rescue statistics for 2007 reveal over half (52%) of lifeboat launches were to leisure craft.
RNLI's lifeboats were launched 8,141 times during 2007, rescuing 7,834 people. More than half of the 8,141 RNLI lifeboat launches - 4,287 - were to recreational sea users in leisure craft. Of the 4,287 RNLI lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007 almost half (43%) were to powered craft, well over a third (40%) to sailing craft and 17% were to manual leisure craft.
The major cause for RNLI lifeboat launches to (manual, power and sailing) leisure craft, as in previous years, was overwhelmingly machinery failure (29% of incidents), this is followed by craft being stranded or grounded (13%) and vessels meeting adverse weather conditions (9%) as the three main causes for lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007.
The top three reasons for lifeboat launches to each specific type of leisure craft in 2007 were machinery or engine failure for both power and sailing leisure craft, while the impact of adverse weather conditions was the main reason for lifeboat launches to manual leisure craft. The final RNLI rescue figures for 2007 also show an increase in the number of man overboard incidents for leisure craft - rising from 161 (2006) to 201 (2007), up 25% from 2006.

Despite fewer visitors to the coast during the early summer months due to the unseasonable weather, RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards continued to respond to a high number of calls for help, as more and more people are using the water and beaches for leisure pursuits. RNLI lifeguards, who were operational on 71 beaches in the south west of England and East Anglia, rescued 1,350 people, came to the aid of a further 9,883 people and responded to 8,201 incidents. The wet summer weather also meant that the RNLI's Flood Rescue Team and volunteer lifeboat crews were particularly active inland, rescuing another 200 people in flood hit areas across the UK during the summer months.

Tower lifeboat station on the River Thames was the busiest RNLI lifeboat station, launching 529 times and rescuing 226 people, and Southend lifeboat station launched 131 times and rescued 121 people.

26/01/08
RNLI SOS Fundraising Day collection at Lakeside

The Branch held an SOS Day collection at Lakeside and on a bright and sunny day we collected £390. As usual we met and spoke to a number of very interesting people. Thanks to everybody involved.

16/01/08
Gravesend Lifeboat rescues teenagers cut off by tide

Gravesend RNLI lifeboat was called out on Wednesday evening (16th Jan) to assist two teenagers who had become cut off by the tide.
London Coastguard requested the lifeboat to launch after receiving reports that two people had climbed aboard the derelict Gull lightship, adjacent to Thurrock Yacht Club, and become trapped by the rising tide. The lifeboat crew, consisting of crew members Andy Colley, Dave Parry and Graham Tassell, brought the teenagers aboard the lifeboat, before landing them back ashore at Grays. The pair, a male aged 17 and a female aged 18, both from the local area,were unharmed.