Called the RNLI - what a performance

[mjf]

As several in here know i have a home on the tidal Thames - on the boat race course!

After the race party on Sunday evening as dusk set I saw an upturned hull with two people cling to it was it raced out at 4/5 knots on strong tide.


It was clear they were in some danger as mid stream and heading to wards Putney at speed.

Called 999 and got a prompt reply Fire,Police or Ambulance? to which I said RNLI Chiswick please - Fire,Police or Ambulance came the reply - i said RNLI for their rib to attend. We cant help with that came the response.

So I hung up and tried / failed on the VHF before I had the thought of marine Police - 999 again and got the police dispatcher who got on the case fast. By this time a small group of kyaks came by but with no training boat in attendance - they pulled the two guys and the boat to the bank where they sorted themselves out and relaunched just as the RNLI came under Hammersmith Bridge at speed.

No harm done but time was lost 3/4mins with the messing about with 999 and RNLI not being part of the emergency system.

Was i dealing with an newby initially or just simply did it wrong?

As they appeared safe we called off the police boat and ambulance that the second dispatched thought wise to call


any views/opinion?

 

[sailorman]

You should have asked for Coastguard

 

[Plum]

As several in here know i have a home on the tidal Thames - on the boat race course!

After the race party on Sunday evening as dusk set I saw an upturned hull with two people cling to it was it raced out at 4/5 knots on strong tide.


It was clear they were in some danger as mid stream and heading to wards Putney at speed.

Called 999 and got a prompt reply Fire,Police or Ambulance? to which I said RNLI Chiswick please - Fire,Police or Ambulance came the reply - i said RNLI for their rib to attend. We cant help with that came the response.

So I hung up and tried / failed on the VHF before I had the thought of marine Police - 999 again and got the police dispatcher who got on the case fast. By this time a small group of kyaks came by but with no training boat in attendance - they pulled the two guys and the boat to the bank where they sorted themselves out and relaunched just as the RNLI came under Hammersmith Bridge at speed.

No harm done but time was lost 3/4mins with the messing about with 999 and RNLI not being part of the emergency system.

Was i dealing with an newby initially or just simply did it wrong?

As they appeared safe we called off the police boat and ambulance that the second dispatched thought wise to call


any views/opinion?

+1 You should have called 999 or on VHF ch 16 and asked for the Coastguard. The RNLI is certainly part of the emergency system but they are an integral part of the resources available to the Coastguard who have primacy on UK tidal waters and coastline.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[NorthUp]

As said you should have asked for the Coastguard.
Having said that the incompetence of the 999 operator is breathtaking (sorry), please take this further with the Coastguard themselves on 02380 329 486 - it has happened before and they should take it seriously .
( a horrible thought there aren't many experienced CG left, I hope you get a real on the phone!)

 

[guernseyman]

According to Reeds you should call London Coastguard on Ch 16, 67.

No obvious telephone number is given, either for the Coastguard or the RNLI, who have four stations on the Thames.
However, the Coastguard do have a telephone number on their internet site: 02083 127 380.

I think you've hit on a hole in the Emergency services. If I was you I would call the Coastguard and tell them what happened.

 

[prv]

any views/opinion?

As everyone else has already said, "RNLI" isn't a 999 service, but "Coastguard" is in relevant areas (as is "Mountain Rescue", I believe, in the appropriate places).

What I do now wonder though is whether the London 999 operators are set up with the Coastguard. They have a small central London operation so they ought to be, but wouldn't she have included them in her spiel in that case?

Pete

 

[sailorman]

As everyone else has already said, "RNLI" isn't a 999 service, but "Coastguard" is in relevant areas (as is "Mountain Rescue", I believe, in the appropriate places).

What I do now wonder though is whether the London 999 operators are set up with the Coastguard. They have a small central London operation so they ought to be, but wouldn't she have included them in her spiel in that case?

Pete

London RNLI is one of the county`s busiest stations

 

[prv]

London RNLI is one of the county`s busiest stations

Yes, but you still can't phone them direct on 999. That's the whole point of this thread.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Yes, but you still can't phone them direct on 999. That's the whole point of this thread.

Pete

According to the Chiswick RNLI website you should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard

http://www.chiswicklifeboat.org.uk/

 

[colhel]

I would have hoped the telephone operator would have known what emergency service to call.

 

[Plum]

However, the Coastguard do have a telephone number on their internet site: 02083 127 380..

Obviously, that number is not for emergencies.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[sailorman]

Yes, but you still can't phone them direct on 999. That's the whole point of this thread.

Pete

The OP was ill informed as to who he should have asked for
the operator will transfer you to the CG, who will in turn contact the RNLI stn :encouragement:

 

[stelican]

PM sent

 

[rafiki_]

Firstly Mike, very well done on your prompt action. This could have ended in tears, and the arrival of the kayakers was very lucky, you weren't to know this.
Secondly, it is very easy for all of us in the cold light of day to say we would have done this or that, but Mike responded in a very normal way, calling 999 in a very pressured situation. I expect that I, and many others would have done the same.
Hats off Mike.

 

[duncan99210]

The best way to access the RNLI in London I would suggest is via the police. The initial call handlers have little background or experience to go on and if your request doesn't match their script, there's little they'll do other than parrot the script. Clearly once the OP got through to the police, their call handlers understood what was going on and could react properly. On the odd occasion when I've needed to call the emergency services to deal with traffic accidents, despite probably needing all three services I've asked to be put through to the police first, explained the situation to them and suggested that there would be a requirement for ambulance and fire/rescue as well. The call handlers prompted me in these suggestions so I now have mindset in these sort of circumstances which says: call the police, outline the problem and let them task the right agencies to deal.

 

[rbcoomer]

The best way to access the RNLI in London I would suggest is via the police. The initial call handlers have little background or experience to go on and if your request doesn't match their script, there's little they'll do other than parrot the script. Clearly once the OP got through to the police, their call handlers understood what was going on and could react properly. On the odd occasion when I've needed to call the emergency services to deal with traffic accidents, despite probably needing all three services I've asked to be put through to the police first, explained the situation to them and suggested that there would be a requirement for ambulance and fire/rescue as well. The call handlers prompted me in these suggestions so I now have mindset in these sort of circumstances which says: call the police, outline the problem and let them task the right agencies to deal.

+1 Missus worked as a call handler for the Police for a few years - they deal with a far greater variety of enquiries and more of them. They also have a vast pool of resources and I believe they are generally better staffed including having serving officers usually present in the room should calls escalate. Always first port of call if in doubt.

 

[MrB]

Firstly Mike, very well done on your prompt action. This could have ended in tears, and the arrival of the kayakers was very lucky, you weren't to know this.
Secondly, it is very easy for all of us in the cold light of day to say we would have done this or that, but Mike responded in a very normal way, calling 999 in a very pressured situation. I expect that I, and many others would have done the same.
Hats off Mike.

+1

 

[mjf]

Yep, thats all agreed - CG should have been requested.

If this had occurred on the coast it would be automatic but believe me when you see a couple of chaps in cold water going past (initially I thought it was a hull only) in the middle of central London the last thing you think of is CG.

I will as suggested, call them and revert

 

[mjf]

so, CG said as my call to 999 was on land line it would have been taken anywhere in UK and diverted 'locally'.

They agreed a gap in the system. London CG cover complete tidal thames and co-ordinate police, RNLI etc

I am concerned about this as I have some experience in this stuff and I got it wrong, big time.

Of course i know now what to do and will in future keep my hand held VHF charged too!

 

[boatingdave]

+1 - well said.

Firstly Mike, very well done on your prompt action. This could have ended in tears, and the arrival of the kayakers was very lucky, you weren't to know this.
Secondly, it is very easy for all of us in the cold light of day to say we would have done this or that, but Mike responded in a very normal way, calling 999 in a very pressured situation. I expect that I, and many others would have done the same.
Hats off Mike.