Brought To Safety - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Brought To Safety – TWO boats were brought to safety by volunteer crew from Southend branch of the RNLI

Brought To Safety - TWO boats were brought to safety by volunteer crew from Southend branch of the RNLI

TWO boats were brought to safety by volunteer crew from Southend branch of the RNLI after they were found to be in distress.

Volunteers from the Southend branch of the RNLI helped to prevent one boat from entering into the shipping lane on Saturday June 7 and helped another that had run aground on Sunday June 8.

Volunteers were called at 7:15 pm on Saturday to a seven-metre yacht with two people on board, which had called after engine failure approximately half a mile south of Southend pier. The vessel was close to busy shipping lanes and a danger to navigation.

Crews launched the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and battled heavy rain. Both boat members were found to be in good health. The decision was made to tow the vessel to the nearest safe port, Queenborough Kent where Sheppey Coastguard rescue team were waiting.

On Sunday, June 8 at 11:05 pm volunteers were called out to rescue a work boat, which was reportedly in danger of running aground on the Chapman Sands off Canvey Island.

Volunteers launched Julia & Angus Wright quickly locating the casualty vessel. The four people onboard, three adults and one child were in good health, but were potentially in a dangerous area where ship wash and fast tides are abundant.

Southend RNLI volunteer crew towed the vessel to the nearest safe mooring off Chalkwell and took the casualties to Two Tree Island where Canvey Coastguard rescue team were waiting.

Southend RNLI volunteer helm Dave Cartwright said: “Both vessels were situated close to dangerous areas.

“The Thames estuary is very busy with large ships continuously using the narrow lanes and the ships make a fair size wake, which can be very dangerous to a vessel aground next to the shipping lanes.

“A vessel drifting in the lanes is in imminent danger of collision.

“Once we had carried out a quick assessment of the crew and vessels, our only option was to tow the casualties to the nearest safe harbours.”

Picture: B-885 Julia & Angus Wright Pic: RNLI/Nigel Gilchrist.

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