Stranded Chalkwell Casualties

TWO casualties stranded in a boat off Chalkwell Beach were rescued by Southend RNLI in their first call out of the year.

Southend RNLI volunteers were paged at 8.37pm on Saturday, January 4 to a vessel stranded in the Hadleigh Ray, off Chalkwell.

The volunteers launched the charity’s inshore rescue hovercraft H-006 John Russell at 8.53pm in cold, blustery wind and sleet with deteriorating conditions.

Southend RNLI confirmed that HM Coastguard Southend asked for the hovercraft to evacuate two of the crew from the boat.

On reaching the boat at 9.11 pm, the pair were found to be very cold, but not requiring medical attention.

The volunteer crew gave the casualties blankets then headed back to the inshore station arriving at 9.58pm, where HM Coastguard Southend were waiting to receive the them.

Southend RNLI volunteer hovercraft Commander Tony Bonham said: “There was a cold wind with sleet falling, and we were concerned for the two casualties who were very cold.

“After a health check and wrapping them in blankets we made a relatively slow trip back to the station so not to cause any unnecessary spray and discomfort to the casualties.”

Southend RNLI volunteers prepared hovercraft for service again, switched the pagers back on and returned home.

A spokesperson added: “If you get into trouble or see someone in trouble by the coast or at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

Picture: the RNLI volunteers faced wind and sleet. Pic Nigel Gilchrist

Read more.

Visit: https://leigh-on-sea.news

Contact us. Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leighonsea.news

Twitter: @leighonsea_news