Lifeboat rescue in Keyhaven Harbour

The RNLI Lymington Lifeboat, along with the Coastguard and Ambulance Service made a dramatic rescue of stricken sailors in difficult sea and wind conditions at Keyhaven Harbour on Monday evening.

The full report from the lifeboat team can be read below: 

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Multi agency rescue of two people in difficulty near Keyhaven.

Last night (21st Feb) the Lymington crew were arriving at the station for their weekly training session when their pagers went off. 

The station's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat B-882 David Bradley launched under the helm of Phil and within 3 minutes of the pagers going off. The weather was settling after storm Franklin, but there was a strong SW F5 wind.

Initial reports said one person had been in the water and two people were separated in two different craft. The lifeboat exited the Lymington River using a safe speed due to the lack of visibility and made their way to the Eastern entrance of Hawker’s Lake. 

Due to the low tide the lifeboat could not get close to the entrance of the eastern approach. The crew decided to illuminate the area in order to locate the casualty, using a white parachute flare but were unsuccessful. 

They then proceeded to the entrance of Keyhaven River and proceeded to the Western approach of Hawker’s Lake where again the crew illuminated the area using a white parachute flare ,which helped the Coast Guard mud rescue team locate the casualty.  

The lifeboat then proceeded to the quay area where they located the second casualty that was keeping out of the wind in a Shetland dinghy. The casualty had been immersed in water and was getting very cold, so from a distance of 100 m the crew monitored their condition until the mud rescue team were able to reach them.

Mud rescue teams from Lymington and Hillhead Coastguard both deployed to the two separate casualties and got them safely into the care of the ambulance service. The lifeboat was then stood down and return to station.

Helm Phil said “It was great to see all the rescue agencies work together so well.  It is also really important to ensure you have a means to call the Coastguard if you are in difficulty.  The water temperature is also really cold at this time of year and its important to ensure you have appropriate clothing.  It was also the first rescue for crew member Luke.”

Crew. Phil, Dave, James, Luke.

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Thanks of all you do guys!

RNLI Lymington Lifeboat

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