Bembridge RNLI lifeboat rescued two persons from the cold waters of The Solent this afternoon (Wednesday) after their speedboat sunk off of Hayling Island.
The volunteer crew of the Bembridge RNLI were around two hours into a training exercise on the All Weather Lifeboat, when they were tasked by Solent Coastguard to the eastern edge of Hayling Island beach following a pan pan call reporting that a speedboat with two persons on board had broken down and was in danger of sinking.
Although arriving swiftly on the scene, it was discovered that the speedboat had already sunk and the two occupants were in the surf. The Y boat was immediately launched and was able to reach the two casualties and recover them to the Alfred Albert Williams lifeboat. The speedboat was unable to be saved.
In view of the cold state of the two casualties, it was agreed that rather than transfer the two casualties to Portsmouth Lifeboat who had by that time arrived on scene, they would be warmed up on the ALB and dropped off at the Langstone/Hayling Ferry terminal and taken to Portsmouth Lifeboat Station to recover.
This life-saving shout followed another shout just 30 minutes previous when the lifeboat was tasked to check out a report of a raft being sighted in the vicinity of Spitbank Fort by a passer-by on Southsea Seafront. Thankfully, nothing was spotted and the incident was closed just after 15:00.
Bembridge RNLI continued vibration tests following the successful rescue mission. (Alfred Albert Williams photographed today ahead of the launch)
