Mayday alert sparks major six-hour RNLI rescue off the north Kent coast

HM Coastguard received a Mayday distress call from a 15m motor yacht around 5.30pm yesterday (Monday 5 May) reporting their craft was disabled and drifting around 10 miles north-west of Margate. There were three persons and a dog on board the vessel which also reported medical issues with two of its crew and that they required immediate assistance.

Margate’s B class RNLI inshore lifeboat along with the RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Ramsgate were tasked to assist along with the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lydd Airport, weather conditions on scene reported as ‘poor’ with a cold northeasterly wind force six (strong breeze) gusting to force seven (near gale) and a 1.5m to 2m sea.

Once on scene two cascare-trained crew members from the Margate lifeboat boarded the craft and after an initial assessment provided treatment to the two casualties while Ramsgate lifeboat established a towing connection with the yacht to stabilise the vessel’s movement.

It was determined that weather conditions precluded transfer of the two casualties direct to the coastguard helicopter and after the paramedic/winchman was transferred to Margate lifeboat was able to board the yacht. It was subsequently considered best that the casualties should remain on the yacht to be monitored by the lifeboat crew and helicopter paramedic with Ramsgate lifeboat continuing the tow to Ramsgate harbour, the nearest suitable port of refuge with Margate lifeboat also remaining in attendance as escort.

Upon arrival at Ramsgate, the convoy was met by members of Margate Coastguard Rescue Team whereby the vessel’s occupants were handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service. The dog was unphased by the drama, according to one of the lifeboat crew ‘acting as a hot water bottle for one of the casualties’ and remained with the yacht’s crew. The lifeboats returned to station after completing the six-hour long rescue.

Kieran Sharrock, Launch Authority, Margate RNLI said: “The occupants did exactly the right thing by initiating a Mayday call when their situation deteriorated.

“This was a long and arduous rescue for those involved requiring skill in what was a dynamic situation and what volunteer lifeboat crews are trained for not to mention the coordination with our flank lifeboat colleagues along with coastguard personnel onshore and in the air.”

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

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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.

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