Walton & Frinton Lifeboat To The Rescue

[nortada]

Family of three stranded in backwaters rescued by firefighters and lifeboat crews

Now based at Titchmarsh, the soon to be withdrawn W&FLB, was readily at hand.

When the RNLI, had all the required resources so readily available it is surprising that the Clacton Fire Brigade got involved and got all of the glory.

 

[MoodySabre]

I’ve seen the Fire & Rescue team using mud paths in Old Leigh. What a mess!

 

[johnalison]

I’m not clear what danger the boat’s occupants were in. Maybe the cold conditions were a problem or there was a susceptible person on board. We listened in on a Backwaters rescue a couple of years ago when a seal-bothering boat got stuck with loss of its power and a full load of passengers on a hot day in Bramble creek. The VHF conversation was very entertaining, the coastguard clearly not having a clue about the geography of the area.

 

[Juan Twothree]

Family of three stranded in backwaters rescued by firefighters and lifeboat crews

Now based at Titchmarsh, the soon to be withdrawn W&FLB, was readily at hand.

When the RNLI, had all the required resources so readily available is surprising that the Clacton Fire Brigade got involved and got all of the glory.

Walton won't be without a lifeboat. They'll be getting a D class, and Clacton is getting a Shannon. Plus Harwich isn't too far away for a job on the Backwaters, and they have two boats to choose from.

Once a boat is high and dry on soft mud there's often very little the RNLI can do, other than transport a CG mud team or Trumpton to the scene.

If the lifeboat crew attempt a rescue and either they, or the casualties, get stuck in the mud themselves then there's a whole new load of problems to deal with.

 

[RivalRedwing]

I’m not clear what danger the boat’s occupants were in. Maybe the cold conditions were a problem or there was a susceptible person on board.

+1

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Walton won't be without a lifeboat. They'll be getting a D class, and Clacton is getting a Shannon. Plus Harwich isn't too far away for a job on the Backwaters, and they have two boats to choose from.

Once a boat is high and dry on soft mud there's often very little the RNLI can do, other than transport a CG mud team or Trumpton to the scene.

If the lifeboat crew attempt a rescue and either they, or the casualties, get stuck in the mud themselves then there's a whole new load of problems to deal with.

Does the RNLI use hovercraft? It strikes me that they would be ideal for places like the Backwaters.

 

[Marmalade]

I saw that report too... inconvenient but looked upright and anchored - were they neaped?

 

[Leighb]

Does the RNLI use hovercraft? It strikes me that they would be ideal for places like the Backwaters.

They do in some sites that really need it, where the tide may go out for a very long way and with acres of treacherous ground, mud, quicksand etc, that cannot be traversed on foot or with any other type of vehicle. Morecombe Bay is one example, there are others.

 

[Juan Twothree]

They do in some sites that really need it, where the tide may go out for a very long way and with acres of treacherous ground, mud, quicksand etc, that cannot be traversed on foot or with any other type of vehicle. Morecombe Bay is one example, there are others.

+1
They only really work in the kind of places Leighb has described. They come a bit unstuck, or rather very stuck, in areas with narrow gullies.
I know that Southend have had issues where the front and back of the hovercraft is on the mud, but the middle is over a gully, so it loses all of its lift.

 

[Jokani]

They do in some sites that really need it, where the tide may go out for a very long way and with acres of treacherous ground, mud, quicksand etc, that cannot be traversed on foot or with any other type of vehicle. Morecombe Bay is one example, there are others.

I believe there is one at Hunstanton, on the North Norfolk coast as well.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

I believe there is one at Hunstanton, on the North Norfolk coast as well.

And at Weston super Mud, and Burnham

 

[ianc1200]

I was at the marina. I think 5 fire engines turned up, plus supporting vehicles, there were so many people there from various services. The boat, newly bought, went aground at Cormorant Creek, and this was about 1 hour before LW (or was when all the fire engines arrived). Apparently a family with a very young child + pregnant wife & they were panicking (this was the marina gossip). The boat was a very small cruiser, I believe from talking to the former owner, has twin inboard daggers, so whilst very safe if the young family were upset/frightened I can understand the need to help them. We however seem to have two of the large lifeboats residing at the marina the last couple of weeks, and there is a public meeting soon regarding the withdrawal. There was a RNLI rib out as well, but only the larger boat could of carried the mud ladders used in the rescue.

 

[penfold]

1 hour before LW? That's tantamount to pandering to stupidity; nobody's in any peril, unless it's justified as an exercise it's a waste of resources.

 

[LittleSister]

1 hour before LW? That's tantamount to pandering to stupidity; nobody's in any peril, unless it's justified as an exercise it's a waste of resources.

I have a degree of sympathy with that view, but better to sort it early and before it has any potential to become an emergency. (Not to mention PR disaster.)

I imagine it's all good training, and will stand the emergency services in good stead in the event that a related but more urgent/dangerous situation arises.

 

[Juan Twothree]

1 hour before LW? That's tantamount to pandering to stupidity; nobody's in any peril, unless it's justified as an exercise it's a waste of resources.

The article states the fire brigade was tasked at 1428, which was about 2.5 hrs after HW, so presumably the boat had gone aground shortly before that?

Harwich ILB was paged at 1550, Walton at around 1600.

 

[dogleg]

Having spoken 2 my contacts the facts are these: pregnant woman and 4 y old child on board yacht went aground shortly after hw not expected to reflect until midnight
Never rely on press for accuracy LB Used was 16 19 the station boat which has had engine mods and is still at marina.
Walton has 16 01 on relief and goes to TM for routine maintainence which cannot be done pier berth.

16 19 was used otherwise relief boat would have to go right down to PyeEnd to TM.

As regards whether it was necessary if yacht crew were novices epically with young child and potentially cold night etc obviously CG made the call.

We were all novices once some learnt quicker than others.

 

[nortada]

Understand that the Walton life boat was ‘scrambled’ 4 times over the Easter Weekend.

Is this unusually high usage an attempt to justify the retention of the Walton offshore boat

Emergency services and RNLI called to aid of person on roof

See the Clacton team are countering by extending their area of operations.