On Saturday 1 August an initial tasking for the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI from H.M. Coastguard evolved into three separate incidents. The pagers first sounded at 2.21pm to assist an 8.5m motorboat with engine failure at Budleigh Salterton.
On duty Launch Authority for Exmouth RNLI authorised the launch of both the charity’s lifeboats – the inshore lifeboat, George Bearman II, and the all-weather Shannon class, R and J Welburn. The inshore, D-class, lifeboat launched first, arriving on scene at approximately 2.45pm. As the Shannon lifeboat was launching, shortly after the inshore boat, a second incident was picked up over the radio. A mayday call had gone out after a vessel capsized just off Dawlish Warren and a casualty was reported to be in the water. The R and J Welburn and her volunteer crew were diverted to the capsized vessel but, on arrival, were relieved to find that the casualty has been recovered by one of the many other vessels in the area. Satisfied that the casualty was safe and well, the lifeboat returned to join the inshore lifeboat at Budleigh Salterton.
Once the two crews were re-united at Budleigh Salterton, the helm and coxswain of the Exmouth RNLI inshore and all-weather lifeboats, respectively, fully assessed the situation and decided that, due to the onshore winds, the safest course of action was to tow the vessel back to Exmouth Marina. The all-weather lifeboat set up the tow and started its return passage just after 3.30pm.
The inshore lifeboat planned to escort the all-weather lifeboat whilst the motorboat was under tow. However, a few minutes later, the crew of the George Bearman II were diverted again; this time to a vessel in the Exe Estuary which had run aground, causing a female to be thrown forward, sustaining suspected head and spinal injuries. The Exmouth RNLI volunteer inshore lifeboat crew made best speed to the scene where they assessed the casualty’s injuries and administered casualty care. Working in partnership with Southwest Ambulance service, the Dawlish mobile Coastguard team and the crew of the Exmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat, who had subsequently joined them, the decision was made to keep the casualty aboard their vessel and move it to nearby Starcross Yacht Club where the casualty was handed over to the care of Southwest Ambulance Service.
Both lifeboats were eventually stood down by H.M. Coastguard at 5.30pm with both vessels and their crews returning to the lifeboat station by 5.55pm. Volunteer shore crew were ready to receive them, and the boats were washed down and re-fuelled, ready for the next tasking.
In his first shout as helm of the inshore lifeboat, volunteer crew member, Ed Steele, said, “It has been great to put all my training into practice this afternoon, having to deal with multiple incidents in one tasking and each one requiring such different skills. I am grateful for the support of all the crew involved today and pleased that we managed to help those who needed us.”
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