CALL OUTS 2016

Concerns Raised

by Sailing Club

 28/12/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Our volunteer crew were paged at 12:19 today to launch our D Class lifeboat after concerns were raised by a local sailing club for one of its members who appeared to not be making way approximately one mile off Holland Haven in a 16ft catamaran. The lifeboat arrived on scene and it was quite clear the casualty was becalmed and in fact the tide was moving quicker than anything else. The vessel and its one occupant were then taken under tow back to Clacton Sailing Club at Holland Haven.

Search for Missing

Person

 26/11/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Both lifeboats were launched on service yesterday evening shortly after 22:00 to assist in the search for a missing person The volunteer crew completed a shoreline search alongside other emergency services for approximately one hour All units were then stood down as the casualty had safely returned home

Assist in search for

Casualty

 16/11/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (D723) At 00:22 on Wednesday 16th November the volunteer crews pagers were activated to launch the D class lifeboat to assist Essex Police and East of England Ambulance service in the search for a casualty reported to be in danger of entering the sea approximately 200 metres away from our station. The lifeboat soon launched with a volunteer crew of three and began an immediate search from the lifeboat station to Clacton Pier. With visibility deteriorating it was decided to also launch the Atlantic 85 lifeboat with a further crew of four to assist in the search for the casualty, whilst Clacton coastguard and walton coastguard completed a search along the shoreline. At approximately 01:45 it was decided to stand all resources down after no further information was received and nothing found. All units returned to their stations and the volunteer crew made the boats ready for service at 02:20.

Reports of Drifting

Vessel

 09/10/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) At 14:11 today Dover Coastguard paged our volunteer crew after reports of a drifting vessel approximately 1 mile South West of station. With a volunteer crew of three, the D class lifeboat was launched several minutes later to investigate. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the vessel was in fact the fibreglass hull of a boat that had been pushed off the beach. The hull was taken under tow to Hutleys Beach where we met Clacton CoastGuard to assist in pulling the vessel clear of the sea. Photo Credit: Clacton HM Coastguard

Sinking Speedboat

 01/10/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) Our volunteer crew were paged at 13:43 today to reports of a speedboat sinking in the area of Colne Point. A search was commenced once on scene and after speaking to other vessels in the area it was confirmed the boat was on the beach. The volunteer crew checked on the boat and it turned out to be the wreck of a speedboat that sank a couple of months ago (See Call Out 03/09/2016). The lifeboat was then stood down to return to station.

Kite Surfer in

Difficulty near

Frinton

 17/09/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) At 12:05 today our volunteer crew were paged to launch our Atlantic 85 lifeboat to a kite surfer in difficulty 1 mile South East of Frinton golf course, crew arrived on scene to find a kite surfer in a small inflatable RIB with two other persons making their way ashore. After the first informant was contacted to ensure we were with the correct kite surfer, and no further medical attention required, The lifeboat was stood down to return to station.

Swimmer in

Difficulty & Broken

down Jet Ski

 11/09/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) At 15:54 our volunteer crew launched our D class lifeboat to a swimmer in difficulty off Jaywick alongside Clacton Coastguard. Upon arrival it was discovered a member of public had assisted the casualty to safety and with no medical attention needed, the Lifeboat was Stood Down. Our D Class Lifeboat was then tasked to a broken down jet ski, somewhere between Lion point and Martello bay with one person on board. A search began and Clacton Coastguard spotted the jet ski on the beach at the furthest East point of Clacton golf course. The jet ski and one occupant were then towed back to their launch site at Hutleys Beach The lifeboat was then stood down.

Speedboat taking

on water

 03/09/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) At 11.40am Clacton's Atlantic 85 'David Porter MPS' was launched at the request of Dover Coastguard to a 18-21ft speedboat with 3 people on board that was taking on water. The boat was reported to be about 1 mile out, somewhere between Brightingsea and Mersea. On reaching Colne Point the Lifeboat began a search; at the same time Dover Coastguard asked the speedboat to fire one of its hand held smoke flares. The crew of the Atlantic 85 saw the smoke and promptly came alongside the speedboat. A crew member was placed on-board with a salvage pump, and began pumping out the water while it was still at anchor. Once this was completed the anchor was weighed and the Lifeboat took it in tow to Point Clear, from where it launched earlier in the day. Two crew members helped recover the boat to its trailer before returning to the Lifeboat, which then made its way back to station, where it was recovered at 13:15

4 Callouts on Bank

Holiday Weekend

 26/08/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (D723) CLACTON'S volunteer lifeboat crews were kept busy over the Bank Holiday weekend as they were called to four separate incidents, including one to a boat that sank off St Osyth. After two busy days of people visiting the boathouse in Hastings Avenue during Clacton Air Show, Clacton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was called to the aid of an 18ft speedboat that had run into trouble at Colne Point at 9.35pm on Friday. The craft had a split hose, which meant the engine had started taking on water. While proceeding to the scene, Dover Coastguard requested the launch of Clacton's D class lifeboat after a 25ft yacht had run out of fuel and was left marooned about one mile off Clacton. Due to the state of tide, the larger Atlantic 85 couldn't get in close enough to the speedboat, so they contacted the D class crew and asked them to swap shouts. A spokesman for the crew added: “As the Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived on scene with the yacht, a volunteer crew member was placed on board to check on the welfare of its five occupants. “Two of those were feeling slightly unwell so they were taken off the vessel and evacuated back to the lifeboat station to warm up and get something to eat. “The lifeboat then headed back out to sea and passed a towline over." The vessel was then towed back to Brightlingsea Harbour. At the same time the D class arrived on scene to find the speedboat and its two occupants in shallow water at the entrance to the river Colne. It was also towed to Brightlingsea. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat was called to the aid of another speedboat that has suffered engine failure close to the shoreline at St Osyth Beach Holiday Park at 5.30pm on Sunday. The spokesman added: "Upon arrival, there was no boat in sight so we made contact with the informant via Clacton Coastguard. "It emerged that shortly before the lifeboat arrived on scene, the 15ft speedboat had sunk leaving its three occupants in the water. "A search began, but soon after it was discovered they were already on the beach after swimming ashore. "With the occupants being fit and well, the lifeboat was stood down." The crew again sprang into action at 8.05pm following a call for help from a 30ft yacht that suffered engine failure four miles South West of station. As the lifeboat arrived on scene, two of the vessel’s five occupants were suffering from seasickness, so two volunteer crew members were placed on board to assess the situation. Once the crew were happy with the casualties condition a towline was rigged and the lifeboat made its way to Brightlingsea harbour, where Clacton Coastguard and the harbour master were on hand to assist in berthing the casualty boat. The lifeboat was stood down to return to station 10.15pm.

7.5m Pleasure Boat

with Engine Problems

 19/08/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) At 09:46 today, our Atlantic 85 launched on service to broken down 7.5m pleasure boat with engine problems approx 2 miles East of Clacton Pier. The casualty vessel was taken under tow to Brightlingsea harbour where Clacton Coastguard were awaiting. Once the vessel was secured alongside, the lifeboat was stood down to return to station, and was made ready for service by 12:00

3 People cut off at

Sandy Point

 13/08/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Shortly after our volunteer crew had packed up after the Clacton Carnival procession, we were launched on service at 20:14. Our IB1 was launched to 3 people cut off by the tide at Sandy Point, St Osyth. Once on scene a crew member was placed ashore. The 3 casualties were actually fishing and were well aware of the tidal situation, they had kayaks to get back to shore. The lifeboat was then stood down to return to station.

24ft Yacht in

Difficulty

 11/08/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) At 11:41 our volunteer crew were paged to launch the Atlantic 85 to a 24ft yacht in difficulty off Holland Haven. After establishing comms with the yacht, it was found off St Osyth, approximately 6 miles South East of its reported location. A crew member was placed aboard the yacht to assist in taking the mainsail down and attach a towline as the vessel was running low on fuel. The yacht was then towed to the entrance of Brightlingsea Harbour, where she proceeded under her own power into the harbour for repairs.

Clacton’s Busiest

Weekend Yet

 24/07/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (D723) Clacton’s volunteer Crew Attend 7 incidences in one weekend, including Broken Down Vessels, Persons in the water and Shoreline Search.

Click here to Read More …

Man rescued after

Boat Sinks

 07/07/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) Clacton’s lifeboat crew had been called to rescue the 50ft trawler which had run aground on a sandbank at the entrance to the River Crouch at 6.15pm on Thursday. The volunteer team in the Atlantic 85 lifeboat waited until 12.30am for the boat to refloat before taking it under tow. But as the houseboat was being towed to Brightlingsea it took on water and quickly sank in the River Colne estuary - with two RNLI men and a 50-year- old sailor from St Osyth still on board. Adrian Rose, lifeboat helmsman, said: “It had its salvage pump running and we put our salvage pump on to the boat too. “We could see it was taking on more water and decided to take the vessel to East Mersea Stone at about 2.30am. “But before we could even finish that conversation, the casualty vessel sank. “It went down in less than ten seconds about 300 metres from the entrance to Brightlingsea. Crewmen Tristen Welham and Louis Scott were on board with the man and they all went down with it. “They came back up with the swell, but this was a very close call. “The lifeboat had to get clear of the boat to ensure we didn’t go down with it. “We circled round and picked everyone up from the water. “The owner of the vessel had swallowed a lot of water and was in a bit of shock. “We requested assistance from the ambulance service and after taking the man to Brightlingsea, he was treated by paramedics. “He was a former merchant sailor and told us he never wants to sail again after the incident, but after he recovered somewhat he thanked us very much for being there when it happened. If we had not have been, he could have gone down with the boat.” The houseboat is believed to have suffered damage to its hull. It was being towed by a support vessel when it first ran aground, with a second sailor on board the houseboat - a 20-year-old man from St Osyth - taken back to his home by the tow when the lifeboat crew first arrived. The lifeboat crew, which also included Joff Strutt, returned to the Clacton RNLI station in Hastings Avenue by 3.30am.

Crew pull man form

the Sea

 28/06/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (D723) VOLUNTEER lifeboat crews saved a vulnerable man after pulling him from the sea near Clacton Pier. Both of Clacton’s lifeboats were launched after a call for help from police officers. The officers asked for help with a vulnerable man who had made his way into the water, just after 8am on Tuesday morning. Lifeboat crews reached the scene and managed to scoop the man out of the sea after he dropped below the surface. A Clacton RNLI spokesman said: “Essex Police called for assistance with a vulnerable male in the water to the east side of Clacton pier clinging to one of the structural supports of the pier. “The D Class lifeboat launched within minutes and soon arrived on scene after being guided in to the casualty by the police. “The casualty was reluctant to get in the boat and was still clinging to the support, before plummeting underneath the surface of the water. “As he did so the crew managed to grab the hood on his jacket and pull him back to the surface.” The man was pulled onto the lifeboat, which was the beached on the east side of the pier by the helmsman, where police, paramedics and coastguards were waiting. The ambulance service treated the man for wounds he sustained while clinging to the pier. He was then taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.

Crew help woman

with Breathing

Difficulties

 18/06/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) VOLUNTEER crews in Clacton came to the aid of a woman with breathing difficulties close to the town’s lifeboat station. The woman, aged in her 40s and from the town, was taken ill close to Martello Beach at about 3.30pm on Saturday, June 18. Clacton RNLI crews had just returned to the lifeboat station, in Hastings Avenue, after being called to the aid of a broken down jet ski, when they were asked by Tendring Council’s beach patrol to assist the woman. A spokesman said: “We were washing down the boat when we requested to help the woman, who had chest pains, breathing difficulties and pains in her abdomen. The crew assisted with first aid and gave the woman oxygen until the East of England Ambulance Service arrived to treat her.” The woman was then taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment. The D-Class lifeboat had been called to the aid of the broken down jet ski, about two miles south-west of the station, at about 2.35pm. The jet ski, which had one person on board, was 500 metres off Hutley’s Beach, St Osyth and was drifting towards Jaywick. The jet ski was towed back to Hutley’s Beach, where the jet skier was given safety advice by the Coastguard. A very busy day for our volunteer crew, all services ended with a good outcome.

Reports of Drifting

Object

18/06/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) Our volunteer crew were paged at 10:38 this morning to launch our Atlantic 85 after a wind farm support vessel reported a drifting object in the water approximately 4 miles South East of station in the Gunfleet Sands Wind Farm. Our volunteer crew arrived on scene and assessed the object. The information was passed over to Dover Coastguard for them to investigate further, whilst the lifeboat stayed on scene. Once Dover Coastguard confirmed where the object had come from, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station for 11:45 The object, which was found to be a dashboard that belongs to Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries, was taken to the station to be returned to the owner.

Swimmer in

Difficulty

 08/06/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Our IB1 launched on service at 12:49 yesterday to reports of a swimmer in difficulty in the vicinity of Clacton Pier. Our volunteer crew were on scene minutes later and began a search for the swimmer. The volunteer crew were then waved down by members of the public on the beach to the West side of Clacton Pier. The crew went ashore and cared for the casualty until the arrival of @EastEnglandAmb paramedics, who transported the casualty to hospital. The lifeboat and its volunteer crew were then stood down and returned to station at 13:00

Person on Rock

Breakwater

 29/05/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Our volunteer crew were requested to launch at 21:10 this evening to a person on a rock breakwater at the bottom of Vista Road, Clacton. A volunteer crew member was put ashore from our IB1 to relay communications between the lifeboat and other resources. The lifeboat stood off the breakwater until Essex Police had dealt with the incident, lifeboat and crew were then stood down.

Possible person in

Water

04/06/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (D723) Our IB1 launched on service at 20:22 yesterday evening after a report came in of a possible person in the water off Hutleys Beach, St Osyth. After an initial search and darkness soon approaching we launched our Atlantic 85 as well as requesting assistance from Clacton Coastguard. Both lifeboats conducted a thorough search of the coastline whilst the Coastguards gathered more information from the first informant. Shortly after, all units were stood down and returned to station, after being refuelled and washed down the volunteer crews returned home.

Person Sitting in a

Precarious Position

 27/05/2016 Boat: D Class (D723) Our IB1 launched on service at 14:34 to go to the aid of a vulnerable person sitting in a precarious position on Clacton Pier. The person was detained and removed from the precarious position at approximately 15:45 in a joint rescue effort by several different services.

Sailing Vessel

Aground

 17/05/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) Our Atlantic 85 was requested to launch on service at 14:53 today after communications were lost with a 30ft yacht aground on the Buxey Sands. On arrival a crew member waded over the sands to check on the welfare of the occupants on board the casualty vessel. The occupants were happy to sit and await for the flood tide ,so our volunteer crew member laid their anchor out. Our volunteer crew also made sure the casualty vessel had good communications with the Coastguard before returning to station.

Man & Woman

recovered from Sea

 13/05/2016 Boat: D Class (D723)  VOLUNTEER lifeboat crews were called to St Osyth beach to help recover a man and a woman from the sea. Clacton RNLI's D Class inshore lifeboat was called to the scene, west of Hutleys Beach, at 5.46am on Friday 14th May, to help recover a man and a woman from the sea. The man, believed to be in his 40s and from the Clacton area, later died at Colchester Hospital. The woman made a slight improvement at the scene and is currently being treated in hospital. The crew were on the scene, where they assisted East of England Ambulance Service paramedics, within minutes. A spokesman for the crew said.  On arrival the ambulance service were already treating two casualties on the water's edge. Two casualty care trained volunteer crew were put ashore and assisted the ambulance service with the treatment of the two casualties, who had been in the water for a fair amount of time. After around 45 minutes of treatment the casualties were transported from the beach to awaiting ambulances and were taken to hospital. The woman made a slight improvement on scene and continues to make a slow recovery in hospital, unfortunately the other casualty died despite the combined team effort from East of England Ambulance service, including their Hazardous Area Response team, Clacton RNLI lifeboat crew, Essex Police and Clacton Coastguard. Our thoughts go out to the casualties, their friends and family.

Speedboat towed to

Brightlingsea

 08/05/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) LIFEBOAT crews came to the aid of a speedboat that had become stranded off St Osyth. Clacton RNLI's volunteers towed the vessel to safety after it broke down on Sunday afternoon. The boat was left stranded when its engine failed. A distress call was made to coastguards by the three people on board. Clacton RNLI's Atlantic 85 lifeboat was launched and the crew managed to track down the drifting speedboat just after 5pm. One crew member jumped on board to check on the people before the craft was towed back to Brightlingsea.

Lifeboat Crew rescue

six rowers from

Creek

 17/04/2016 Boat: D Class (723) Volunteer lifeboat crews from Clacton help to rescue six rowers from Creek. SIX rowers were winched to safety thanks to Clacton lifeboat volunteers and the Coastguard rescue helicopter after their boat ran aground near St Osyth. Clacton RNLI's D class lifeboat was called to the aid of the rowers at Flag Creek at 1.05pm on Sunday, April 17. The rowers, one man and five women aged between 40 and 65, had set off from Brightlingsea before running aground. Darren Simper, Clacton RNLI helmsman, said. We were unable to pull the vessel clear due to the state of the tide. Crewman Rick Burnell crossed the mud to board the rowing boat in order to check on the wellbeing of those on board and the D Class retreated. Two of the women, one aged 65, were very cold, so the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Kent was called in. The helicopter lowered a winchman on to the boat before winching up all six rowers and our crew member. They were taken to the golf course at the nearby Orchards Holiday Park at Point Clear, St Osyth. The park's minibus took the rowers to the water taxi collection point so they could be transported back across the river to Brightlingsea. The rowing boat was due to be collected by Brightlingsea Harbourmaster at the next high tide. The lifeboat returned to the station, in Hastings Avenue, at 3.45pm.

Lifeboat Crews were

called to aid of Kite

Surfer

 21/02/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) & D Class (723) LIFEBOAT crews were called to the aid of a kite-surfer who sadly died after suffering injuries off Point Clear, St Osyth. Clacton RNLI's Atlantic 85 and D Class lifeboats were diverted from a routine exercise at 10.55am on Sunday, February 21, after Dover Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public. It was reported that a kite-surfer has been involved in an incident at Ray Creek, Point Clear. A spokesman for Clacton RNLI said “Both lifeboats proceeded to the incident alongside Clacton Coastguard and Walton Coastguard and joined paramedics and the air ambulance at the scene.” When the lifeboat arrived at Ray Creek two volunteer crew were put ashore and assisted in giving the casualty medical treatment alongside the paramedics and doctors. Unfortunately despite an hour-long battle to save the man, he succumbed to his injuries. The thoughts of the crew and everyone at Clacton RNLI is with the man's family and friends at this sad time.

16ft Open day boat

had engine trouble &

dragging anchor

 23/01/2016 Boat: Atlantic 85 (B863) 12:36pm on Saturday 23rd January, our Atlantic 85 was paged to launch on service after a 16ft open day boat had engine trouble and a dragging anchor. The vessel was between Holland Haven and Frinton, with the fog closing in it was essential to locate them quickly. Whilst on route it was confirmed that the two occupants now had their engine running, we proceeded to escort them back to their launch site. As visibility was now next to nothing and in case any more problems occurred with their engine. After escorting the two occupants back to Holland Haven they were handed over to Clacton Coastguard.