Lymington RNLI was called to its first rescue of the year by HM Coastguard on Saturday (18th January), which saw the lifeboat and her crew responding to Newtown on the Isle of Wight.
The Atlantic 85 class inshore lifeboat ‘David Bradley’ was launched at 19:12, under the command of Simon Nuding. The weather conditions were good with good visibility and on a falling tide.
The lifeboat proceeded out of the Lymington River and headed east towards Newtown Creek, where they reported a 7-metre motorboat was aground. The lifeboat quickly reached the vessel – which had 2 casualties on board – and discovered the motorboat was aground on ‘the wall’ inside Newtown Creek, whilst still at anchor. The vessel was not high-and-dry as initially thought.
The helm assessed the situation and reassured the people on board the vessel. 2 crew members were placed aboard the motorboat whilst another lifeboat crew member entered the water to assist by pushing, once the grounded vessel was floating. Given the tide was falling it was critical to re-float the vessel as soon as possible.
The vessel quickly re-floated and was able to make its own way back to Lymington under their own power, escorted by the Lymington Lifeboat. The lifeboat proceeded back to the station where the shore crew were waiting and prepared the lifeboat ready for service again at 20:03.
Wow ! Over 11 hours for that shout