Wells RNLI assist four people cut off by the incoming tide
At 5:48pm, a tasking request was received from Humber Coastguard, requesting that the inshore lifeboat launch to assist four persons cut off by the tide on a sand bank at the mouth of Wells Harbour, directly opposite the beach huts.
The report had come from a member of the public at the beach huts. 5:50pm, the crew were paged. The inshore lifeboat Peter Wilcox launched outside the lifeboat house and proceeded to sea with a volunteer crew of three at 6:00pm
At 6:05 PM, the inshore lifeboat arrived quickly on scene due to good visibility and located the four persons on the sand bank on the west side of the entrance to Wells Harbour. The individuals were taken aboard the lifeboat and brought ashore at the lifeboat house. The four people were cold but required no medical assistance.
Mark Frary, Inshore Lifeboat Helm, said: ‘The coastline around Wells can change quickly with the tide, and it's easy to become cut off if you're not familiar with the area or haven't checked tide times. We always advise people to check the tide tables before heading out and to keep an eye on how fast the water can move in. Thankfully in this case, a quick report from a member of the public meant we could reach those in danger swiftly and bring them to safety.’
The inshore lifeboat came ashore, was recovered, and rehoused at 6:11pm. The boat was refuelled and ready for service again by 6:30 PM.
Notes to editors
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has released its rescue figures for 2024, revealing its lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year – more than one life saved for every day of the year.
RNLI lifeboats launched 9,141 times in 2024, and helped 17,068 people
The charity’s lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year*
RNLI data – captured between January and December 2024 – highlights the continuing high demand for the services of volunteer lifeboat crews, with 9,141 lifeboat launches over the course of the year, and 17,068 people helped out of dangerous situations at the coast. RNLI lifeboat crews saved the lives of 352 people over the course of 2024, whilst the charity’s lifeguards saved 85 lives on beaches around the UK, assisting over 17,000 more.
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
RNLI Media contacts For more information please telephone Jess Curtis, RNLI Media Engagement placement North and East. Volunteer Press Officer Wells RNLI on 07483488243 or [email protected] contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.