Call Reports
Littlehampton's lifeboats have launched on service 73 times so far in 2010. In 2009, our lifeboats launched 109 times on service, including, for the second year in a row, on Christmas Day. In 2008, Littlehampton's lifeboats attended 84 incidents. Our crews were called out 80 times during 2007 after a quiet 2006 with only 49 calls. These reports summarise a few of the calls attended during the last year or so.
Videos shot from the lifeboat's fixed camera and helmet camera during lifeboat calls, together with videos of our crew during training exercises, can be found on our facebook page www.facebook.com/Littlehamptonlifeboat and YouTube channel www.youtube.com/LittlehamptonRNLI
Sinking Ship - 29 August 2010
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Blue Peter 1’ was called out on Saturday afternoon at 17:30 to assist a boat sinking on its mooring by Nelson’s steps.
The 35ft charter fishing boat began taking in water and after an initial inspection the leak was thought to be below the water line. Crewmen Andy Harris, Andy Hicks and Iain Tebb arrived swiftly on scene with a salvage pump to stem the flooding.
After a thorough investigation of the hull, the source of the ingress was still a mystery. The only way to save the boat would be to lift her out of the water, so back at the Lifeboat station crewman Ross Bowman, a crane driver by trade, was organising the loan of a crane. Eventually a blown hose was located so the crane was unnecessary, with the leak now stemmed the crew were able to finish pumping the water out of the vessel. Blue Peter 1 was back, refuelled and ready for service at 18:35.
Divers Down - 22 August 2010
Solent Coastguard requested that both of Littlehampton's lifeboats launch immediately to a broken down dive boat, with heightened concern because six divers were still underwater, unaware of the problem.
Selsey's all-weather Tyne class lifeboat was also launched, and the coastguard rescue helicopter scrambled. The dive boat was located in its reported position, five miles south-west of the harbour. Assistance was given to identify the cause of the electrical failure, while waiting for the divers to surface. The dive boat was able to return to harbour under its own steam, escorted by the lifeboats.
The Seven Seas Divers club is well known to the lifeboat station, and regularly fundraises on behalf of the RNLI. As one of many responsible dive clubs, they always go to sea properly equipped, with a plan in place to summon assistance should any problems arise. Club chairman Mel Booth called the lifeboat operations manager the following day to offer his thanks for the assistance provided, and commented upon the surprise experienced when he emerged from the slightly murky depths of the English Channel to find three lifeboats and a helicopter hovering overhead!
Uncertain Position - 18 June 2010
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat was called to a slightly confused three man crew on board a broken down motor cruiser.
The vessel was on passage from Poole to Eastbourne when they suffered engine failure, so using a mobile phone they dialled 999 for assistance and informed the coastguard they were one mile off Shoreham. Shoreham Lifeboat was launched to assist. The crew on board the casualty vessel were asked for a lat and long reading from their GPS plotter to verify their position, but the reading placed them two miles south of Bognor Regis. Shoreham Lifeboat was stood down.
Littlehampton’s ‘Blue Peter 1’ was already at sea on exercise when the call came through to assist. The crew, Keith Booth, Andy Hicks and Karl Fisher arrived on scene swiftly and took the 7.5m boat under tow into Littlehampton Harbour, securing it at Town Quay.
This was the 55th call this year for the lifeboats at the Littlehampton Lifeboat Station. Nick White, lifeboat operations manager said 'Although the boat had power failure it was fortunate that the navigational equipment was still working which allowed us to locate them'.
Dismasted Yacht - 29 June 2010
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat was called out on Tuesday evening for a rather long job, to a dismasted Danish yacht, three and a half miles east of the harbour.
The alarm was raised by the yacht’s crew using a hand held VHF radio on board the vessel, making a pan-pan call to the coastguard, who requested a launch on service at 16:52. The crew were paged, arrived and launched by 16:57.
The 29 ft yacht was on passage from Chichester to Brighton, with two people aboard, when the mast snapped and the whole rig collapsed into the sea. Helmsmen Ivan Greer with crew Gavin Simmons and Rob Devo arrived on scene and began the task of salvaging the mast while untangling rope, rigging and sails. By 17:45 the crew had tied the mast to the deck of the yacht and had her under tow to Littlehampton Harbour.
As the tide in the River Arun was very low it meant that the casualty vessel was unable to cross the bar at the harbour entrance, so leaving the yacht anchored up with crewman Gavin onboard, the lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station to pick up a kedge anchor, to ensure the vessel was safely secured whilst waiting for the incoming tide.
At 23:31 the tide had risen sufficiently to allow the dismasted yacht into the river. Still under tow the vessel was taken to the visitor’s moorings at Town Quay and secured for the night.
Blue Peter 1 returned to the station and was washed down, refuelled and ready for service by 00:20.
A video shot from the lifeboat during this ‘shout’ can be found on the Littlehampton Lifeboat Station facebook page www.facebook.com/Littlehamptonlifeboat and YouTube www.youtube.com/LittlehamptonRNLI.
Mystery boat washed up in Worthing - 23 May 2010
The crew of Littlehampton lifeboat station were out on call again after a hectic five shouts the previous day. A 999 call was received stating that a 7ft dinghy had washed up on Worthing beach. The vessel was fully equipped with enough fishing tackle for three people and had an outboard motor in place, but with no-one aboard.
At 10:30 the Atlantic 75 was launched with Gavin Simmons, Ivan Greer and Andy Hicks aboard and the D-class with Keith Booth, Tom White and Lee Cullen. Both boats were on scene by 10:50, Shoreham lifeboat station had also launched its two lifeboats and together began a co-ordinated search of the area.
After a four hour search all four lifeboats were radioed to stand down as the owner of the vessel had been located. A young man passing by had recognised the vessel and knew both the owner and the lock up in which the boat was kept. Later information from the coastguard indicated that the owner had lent his craft to a friend who had left it abandoned on the beach.
Five Shouts on the Trot - 22 May 2010
A busy day again for the crew at Littlehampton Lifeboat Station, clocking five shouts on this glorious summer's day. The first call came through at around 10:25 to assist a 6m motor boat, with five people aboard, off Aldwick. The vessel was having some electrical problems, so with no power was drifting towards the shore line.
The Atlantic 75 and the D-Class were already in the water taking part in training exercises so were both on scene very quickly. The casualty vessel had by then come to rest on the beach. Crewmen Liam Clarke and Keith Booth jumped from the Atlantic 75 and waded over to attach a tow line. Once secured, two of the motor boat crew were transferred to the D-Class and two onto the Atlantic 75, leaving the owner of the vessel aboard to steer. The lifeboats then proceeded to tow the vessel back to Littlehampton and moor them safely at the marina.
At 13:00 having finished the training exercise the boats were washed down and refuelled. Some of the crew had started to drift away to carry on with their weekend when Solent Coastguard requested they launch the Spirit of Juniper, the station’s D-Class lifeboat, to assist a 7.7m yacht that had run aground on the bar at the mouth of the river Arun.
Keith Booth and Liam Clarke who had both attended the earlier shout were joined on board the D-class lifeboat by Laura Robinson. With no real problems other than being stuck till the tide rose, the casualty vessel requested the crew deploy an anchor for them so they could sit it out. Once everything was secure the crew came back to the lifeboat station, refuelled and by 13:45 were ready for service.
The next shout came at 16:57 after a 999 call was made to report a three year old girl missing. She had last been seen playing on east beach near the river and the foreshore office. Both boats were launched with Gavin Simmons, Liam Clarke and Ian Tebb on the Atlantic and Keith Booth, Andy Hicks and Rob Devo on the D-class. After searching for almost fifteen minutes the crew were radioed to stand down as the child had been located. She and a friend had managed to get all the way down to the East Beach Café before they were spotted. The lifeboats were back, washed down and ready for service by 17:45.
The next launch was at 18:48. Andy Harris, Rob Devo and Josh Gruber aboard the Atlantic went to assist a 7m yacht that had broken down two miles south of Middleton. The boys towed the casualty vessel back into Littlehampton and moored it on Town Quay. They were back, refuelled and ready for service by 20:00.
At 20:20 the Atlantic 75, Blue Peter 1 was launched again manned by Keith Booth, Andy Hicks and Josh Gruber. The coastguard had received a 999 call reporting a swimmer in distress 7 miles west of the harbour. They located the casualty swiftly and offered him assistance, but none was needed for the man who was having his regular evening swim.
Andy Hicks said “He seemed a little surprised to see us, apparently he quite frequently has late swims and had no idea what the fuss what about”.
Escaped Dinghy off Elmer - 10 April 2010
Littlehampton lifeboat launched on Friday morning at 7:06 after a 999 call from a concerned member of public, having seen a small boat adrift at sea.
Blue Peter 1, Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75, was heading out of the harbour by 7:12 and, had located the vessel near the Elmer rock islands by 7:17. Having found only garden snails aboard the deserted dinghy, crewmen Ivan Greer, Andy Harris and Oliver Clark towed her back to Littlehampton, securing her at Fisherman’s Quay.
Littlehampton’s lifeboat was back, refuelled and ready for service by 7:55.
Night Time Search - 8 April 2010
Both Littlehampton lifeboats had launched for their regular Thursday night exercise when they were diverted to search for a sailboard reported in difficulty off Bognor.
The report suggested that the sailboard was quite a long way out to sea, but after a thorough search nothing was found. With failing light Solent Coastguard decided to scramble the rescue helicopter with its infra-red search equipment to supplement the sea search by Blue Peter 1 and Spirit of Juniper.
A second report from some local fishermen was received which seemed to suggest an alternative location for the sailboard. This in turn meant a different drift pattern leading towards Selsey Bill. Selsey Lifeboat launched to extend the search area.
After a four hour search, with nothing found and no missing persons reported, the decision was made to terminate the search.
Saturday Night Sea Drama - 3 April 2010
Littlehampton Lifeboat Station launched its Atlantic 75 lifeboat at 22:35 on Saturday night to assist a yacht at anchor two miles south of the harbour entrance. After experiencing bad weather conditions the crew of the Nicholson 32 yacht decided to seek shelter in Littlehampton but due to tidal conditions were unable to get over the bar.
With one of the two crew members suffering very badly with sea sickness the decision was made to launch the ‘Spirit of Juniper’, Littlehampton’s D-class lifeboat, to bring ashore the crew and ‘Bobby’ their very lively spaniel. As a precaution an ambulance was called which met the casualties as they were brought to the boathouse.
After a thorough check-up by a paramedic it was decided that aside from slight shock and dehydration the casualty would be fine after a few days rest and recuperation.
Hot tea and granola bars were served to all the casualty vessel's crew members, including Bobby.
Senior helmsman Andy Harris, crew Andy Hicks and Josh Gruber meanwhile were left with the task of bringing the yacht back into the harbour. The D-class rejoined them and crewmen Tom White and Josh went aboard the yacht to steer her back to the harbour and on to the visitors’ moorings.
Nick White, lifeboat operations manager said ”Sea sickness can be much worse than generally realised and it was good to see our casualties recovering so well the next day”.
Littlehampton Lifeboat Launch - 27 March 2010
Littlehampton lifeboat station launched its newly refitted Atlantic 75 ‘Blue Peter 1’ for the first time this morning at 11:21 to rescue a broken down motor cruiser.
Another vessel raised the alarm using a mobile phone after seeing the casualty in difficulty, which was suffering engine failure due to blocked intakes. The crew Andy Harris, Keith Booth and Andy Hicks located swiftly the casualty and towed it to the visitor’s moorings in Littlehampton.
Atlantic 75s have about fifteen years in service and usually refitted twice in their operational lives. Littlehampton’s ‘Blue Peter 1’ is eight years old and returned only the previous day from the RNLI's inshore lifeboat centre at Cowes. The refit consisted of a complete strip down, with many components replaced from electrics to new engines and with new on-board cameras which the RNLI are planning to fit to all the lifeboats in the fleet.
3 jobs, 4 dogs!
The crew of the Littlehampton lifeboat station has had a very hairy week, but not so much saving lives at sea, more saving pets in river.
First on 8 February crew Andy Harris, Gavin Simmons and Lee Harrison launched the D-class lifeboat at 10:19am to rescue Fletcher who was stranded on the shingle bank. He was back safely on shore with his owner by 10:25am.
On 12 February Ivan Greer and Tom White, again on the D-class, came to the rescue of Amber and Searling. They launched at 4:37pm, found the dogs struggling in the river and swiftly reunited them with their owner. They were back, refuelled and ready for service by 5:05pm.
Finally on 13 February at 3:43pm Rob Devo, Josh Gruber and Tom White launched the D to rescue the lovable Moffy who was stranded on the shingle bank. Crewman Tom said ‘Moffy was very excitable and very pleased to see us covering us all in kisses, licks and fur’.
Littlehampton Lifeboat two in a row - 04 January 2010
The crew of Littlehampton lifeboat station were called out at 4:30pm on this very frosty evening to a fishing boat in difficulty four and a half miles south of the harbour. The 10m vessel was suffering with a faulty turbo and was unable to make it back to its moorings in Ford. With only three hours till low water the priority was to get the boat over the bar while there was sufficient water.
Littlehampton's Atlantic 75 ’Blue Peter 1’ was launched, but due to the size of the casualty vessel, Selsey lifeboat station was also asked to launch their Tyne class lifeboat to assist. By 5pm the boat and her three crew had been located and were under tow.
Back on shore, crew members from Littlehampton lifeboat station, working with the harbour board, were making space for the arriving casualty, when they became aware of the smell of smoke. They located a nearby fishing boat with an apparent engine fire and promptly called the Fire Brigade. With the first casualty safely moored up, crewmen Gavin Simmons, Ivan Greer and Andy Hicks were then able to help the fire brigade to pump out the vessel.
Littlehampton lifeboat was back, refuelled and ready for service by 6:45, although washing down ‘Blue Peter 1' was a challenge as the water kept freezing in drips on the hull.
Christmas at Littlehampton Lifeboat Station - 25 December 2009
It's 1:30pm on Christmas day, the roasties are roasting the turkey is browning beautifully and off go those pagers.
Littlehampton's D-class inshore lifeboat launched shortly afterwards in response to a 999 call reporting a dog in the river. As always the main concern is that the owner might attempt a rescue, putting themselves in danger.
Crewmen Ollie Clark, Robbie Devo and Tom White rushed to Hattie’s rescue locating her quickly near the shingle bank at the mouth of the river. Hauling her aboard they then dropped her to a grateful owner waiting at the sailing club moorings, both were a little shaken but otherwise unharmed.
The lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and ready for service by 2:15. Christmas lunch was perfect.
Electrical Problems - 17 October 09
The crew were called out at around 11 am to assist a vessel on passage to Shoreham.
The 6.4 metre cruiser had broken down and was having some electrical problems so crewmen Ollie Clark, Andy Harris and Lee Cullen located them swiftly off the coast of Goring and towed them back to the harbour.
Friday Night Shout - 04 October 09
Littlehampton Lifeboat launched to assist a vessel in distress a mile and a half south west of the harbour. The 21ft angling boat contacted Solent Coastguard for assistance just before 11pm, using their on-board VHF radio after their engine failed following an evening of fishing.
With favourable weather conditions RNLI crewmen (Andy Harris, Robbie Devo and Andy Hicks), were able to locate the vessel with three men aboard swiftly. The Atlantic 75 ’Blue Peter 1’ then proceeded to tow the casualty in to the River Arun and safely place it on the moorings at the Littlehampton Marina. The Atlantic crew and the shore crew had the lifeboat re-fuelled and ready for service by midnight and left to continue what remained of their Friday Night!
Snagged Prop - 21 September 2009
Littlehampton Lifeboat launched to assist a yacht in difficulty after losing engine power on route to the River Arun. The skipper of a Beneteau First 21 yacht called Solent Coastguard after he had snagged lobster pot lines off Bognor, as he sailed towards his home port from the Solent. Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Blue Peter 1’ launched within six minutes of the crew page at 13:18 on Saturday 19 September, manned by Rob Devo at the helm, and crewmen Tom White and Andy Hicks.
The skipper had made it clear when he asked for assistance that he was able to continue his passage under sail, but that he would have difficulty negotiating the entrance to Littlehampton Harbour without the use of his engine. As the lifeboat progressed towards the casualty’s position, it was reported that he had been able to free his propeller of the obstruction and so a tow was no longer needed. After consultation with the coastguard, the lifeboat continued to head for the yacht, and then to escort him to Littlehampton and into the harbour just in case more long lasting damage had been done.
Saturday Night Mayday - 8 September 09
Littlehampton Lifeboats was launched at 8:30pm to meet up with Selsey lifeboat to assist with a tow into the harbour.
The 12m river boat was on passage from Cornwall to Eastbourne, having left Weymouth that day she had travelled quite some distance before problems occurred. With steering difficulties and taking on water the crew of the casualty vessel radioed for help. Selsey launched, located and began to pump out the boat. Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 ‘Blue Peter 1 ‘ rendezvoused shortly after to take over the tow.
Helmsman Ivan Greer and crewmen Josh Gruber and Andy Hicks escorted the river boat, with its two occupants and pet cat safely to the visitor’s moorings. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service at 10:20
Beached - 11 August 09
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Blue Peter 1’ was launched at 3:15pm, in response to a report from the crew of a 26ft yacht off the coast, near Angmering on Sea. In strong force 6 southwesterly winds, the yacht’s motor failed, and the crew couldn’t control her under sail because of the wind and tide strength. As the lifeboat made her way to the reported position, the casualty vessel was sighted capsized, aground, and lying across a groyne. The two-man crew had swum safely ashore.
Littlehampton’s D-Class inshore lifeboat ‘Spirit of Juniper’ also launched to assist with the task of avoiding further damage to the casualty vessel. She was successfully righted, but with the rapidly ebbing tide, it wasn’t possible to refloat her, and she remained on the beach.
The high water tidal height was declining, and the crew knew that unless an attempt was made to refloat her, she could remain on the beach for more than a week where she would be buffeted and damaged by strong seas. A decision was made by the crew to muster at 1am on Tuesday morning to attempt a refloat her at high water.
At 1am the crew returned to the boathouse, the conditions by now were much calmer with the wind dropping and the tide rising. In preparation for the boat floating at high water the crew deployed a kedge anchor to maintain the yacht’s stability as the tide came in to lift it off the beach. They then rigged their towing lines and took the strain.
It was touch and go due Insufficient water as to whether the Lifeboats could move her, but with hard work and perseverance she was towed back into the sea and put safely on her moorings at the Arun Yacht Club. The lifeboats were refuelled and ready for service by 4:30am.
Surfer loses it! - 7 July 2009
Littlehampton lifeboats were launched for the second time that day after a 999 call reporting a wind surfer in difficulty one-mile south of Ferring.
The Atlantic 75 left the harbour at 8:32pm in choppy seas and force six winds. They located the casualty swiftly, who having lost his own board in the failing light and overcast conditions, was being attended to by a fellow surfer.
Having dropped the gentleman safely ashore and ascertained he needed no medical assistance, the three volunteer crewmen Andy Harris, Keith Booth and Lee Cullen went in search of the lost sailboard.
Close call for swimmers - 6 July 2009
Littlehampton lifeboats were launched after a 999 call reporting two swimmers in danger on the wooden pier known as the West Works on the western side of the harbour entrance.
Both the Atlantic 75 and the D class lifeboats were on scene just before 3pm. The 84 year old man and the teenage friend's granddaughter found themselves in to difficulty in rough weather and force 7 winds, and were swept away from the beach towards the structure. The crew found the female casualty had clambered on to the pier clear above the water and in deep distress while the male was found on the shingle lacerated from the barnacles and rocks around the base of the pier.
With insufficient water for the lifeboat to get alongside the casualty, crewmen Rob Rollins, Gavin Simmons and Lee Cullen climbed through the West Works from the east side to rescue him and then carried him out of the surf up to the beach. Meanwhile the Coastguard rescue helicopter arrived to winch the young girl from the pier; the helicopter then landed on the beach to pick up the man and whisk them both of to Worthing hospital.
Launching authority Jim Petty commented that ‘Even though the shout was over and done with quickly and successfully, with the awful weather conditions, my goodness it could have ended differently’.
Summer Rescues - 29 June 2009
It was busy for Littlehampton Lifeboats who attended 3 shouts in one day.
After a 999 call to the coastguard the crew launched their Atlantic 75 ‘Blue Peter 1’ at approximately 10.20 to search for a wind surfer reported to be in difficulty west of Bognor Pier. The casualty was returned to shore safely and the lifeboat returned to the harbour as soon as the tide allowed.
Littlehampton lifeboat crew were then paged again just before 18.00 to three inflatables south of Bognor in trouble due to offshore winds, the Atlantic 75 recovered three teenagers and took them ashore.
Meanwhile the D class ‘Spirit of Juniper’ was launched to search for a possible swimmer in difficulty and look for any more inflatable dinghies adrift. They were requested to stand down at 18.45 and were back, refuelled and ready for service by 19.20.
Geoff Warminger duty launching authority commented ‘Even on hot sunny days the wind can still catch people unaware’.
Capsized - 15 June 2009
Two canoeists suffering from hypothermia were pulled from the sea a mile south of Bognor Butlins after an hour and a half in the water.
The two men both in their seventies were spotted by a local fishing boat in the water separated from their craft. The fisherman was able to recover one of the casualties but in the choppy conditions was unable to locate the second; he then contacted the coastguard.
The crew of the Atlantic 75 ‘Blue Peter 1’ quickly located the missing man and administered the medical attention he urgently needed before handing him over to the care of the paramedics who were standing by on Bognor beach.
Meanwhile the D-Class lifeboat ‘Spirit of Juniper’r rendezvoused with the fishing vessel relieving it of the second casualty who appeared to be in a slightly better condition than his companion but still in need of attention from the lifeboat crew and the paramedics.
Grounded - 27 April 2009
Coastguards requested that Littlehampton Lifeboat should launch to assist a yacht in difficulty in gale force winds east of the harbour entrance.
The 7.5m yacht on passage to Brighton, crewed by two men and a dog, ran aground as it attempted to take shelter in Littlehampton Harbour during the night. The following morning a passer-by noticing they were in difficulty raised the alarm.
Both the Atlantic 75 and the D-Class lifeboats were launched at 09:00 and were on scene a few minutes later. The conditions were harsh with torrential rain, a force 7 gale and rough seas pounding the casualty vessel. Lifeboat crew Jenny Cradock and Jon Maidment entered the water to deploy anchors and rig a towline to stabilise the yacht and hold its bow into the weather. As the tide came in and the depth increased the lifeboats were able to carefully tow the yacht into deeper water where they were able to assess the condition of the occupants and their vessel.
With the wind and the sea pushing them from behind the tow into the harbour was very difficult especially as the yacht had jammed steering. A drogue was rigged and the D-Class took a line from the stern of the casualty to assist its directional stability through the turbulent currents of the harbour entrance. Paramedics were waiting at the boathouse to attend to the hypothermic yachtsmen. The dog was fine.
A Flurry of Calls - 15 April 09
A clear sign that the boating season is under way, Littlehampton’s lifeboats responded to a further two calls over the Easter break.
Whilst some crewmembers were carrying out maintenance work at the boathouse on Tuesday 14 April, a report from the foreshore office at around 16:25 warned that a swimmer may be in difficulty and require assistance. Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Blue Peter 1’ launched immediately and was alongside the casualty within a few minutes. Although he was able to swim and not in immediate danger, he was only wearing trunks and was quickly becoming cold. He was taken back to the beach and into the care of the foreshore team.
On Tuesday evening, ‘Blue Peter 1’ launched at 22:00 to assist a 40’ fishing boat reported to be aground on the bar across the harbour entrance, a hazard for all boats around low water. The boat had drifted along to the east of the harbour where the lifeboat passed a line so that the bow could be pulled head to sea and afloat, and then into deeper water so that it could get under way under its own power. The casualty vessel with two adults and two children aboard was escorted to moorings in the harbour. The lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and cleaned, and was ready for service just before midnight.
Stuck in the mud - 29 January 2009
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 75 launched in response to reports of a man waist deep in the mud.
He had been walking his dog near the rivermouth on Wednesday morning when he got in to difficulty. A local fishing boat and a foreshore officer were able to retrieve him safely and unharmed. They were then escorted back to the harbour by the lifeboat.
Doggy Paddle! - 29 January 2009
Littlehampton’s D-Class lifeboat ‘Spirit of Juniper’ launched in response to reports of a pooch up to his neck in the river.
A man walking his dog reported said canine had jumped in to the river near the harbour entrance on Thursday afternoon. He was recovered in a joint effort with the harbour master and swiftly reunited with his owner a little damp but otherwise unharmed. There have been a number of instances when owners have entered the water to try and save their pets and have put themselves in danger. This is why lifeboats are asked to launch in these circumstances.
For more up-to-date information on launches and rescue stories why not follow the RNLI on Twitter
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