15/08/2014 Walmer RNLI lifeboat called to rescue two sailors and a canoeist in difficulty. The volunteer crew of Walmer RNLI lifeboat were paged just after 2.20pm on the 15th August to assist a sailing dingy with two persons on board and a canoeist who found themselves in difficulties half a mile East of The Zetland Arms at Kingsdown. The coastguard requested the launch of Walmers D class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard after several 999 calls were received from concerned onlookers. A sailing dingy which had left the beach at Walmer earlier with a father and teenage son on board found themselves in difficulty after capsizing. Seeing that his father and brother were having difficulty another teenage member of the family launched his kayak and paddled out to help. As the canoeist reached the capsized boat he too found himself in the water as they continued to struggle to right the swamped dingy. On seeing both her sons and husband in the water and not able to right the boat the mother who was watching from the beach was one of the first to dial 999 to request help. The lifeboat was quickly on scene and the three casualties were taken on board. All three were suffering the effects of mild hypothermia and two were beginning to feel sea sick. The lifeboat made its way back to the lifeboat station where the casualties were brought ashore and met by a waiting ambulance crew. After receiving treatment for their hypothermia and being checked over by the paramedics the family were able to make their way home. Commenting on the service call Walmer lifeboat helmsman Adam Cowell said ‘The good weather has encouraged more people out onto our coastal waters, weather conditions can be unpredictable and it is essential that people take the necessary precautions to make sure that they are safe. All of the casualties involved in todays service call were wearing lifejackets and this certainly helped in the moderate sea conditions with a strengthening wind. The right decision was made by the mother and other onlookers to dial 999 and ask for help.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:02:28 +0000
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