Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI

THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA

National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Tower

The RNLI quite rightly has a world class reputation for its search and rescue operations and having done so for nearly 200 years, is fully aware of the importance of working as a team. Not only does that include our volunteer crew members, both afloat and shore based, but equally as important, our search and rescue (SAR) partners.

The RNLI works very closely with HM Coastguard in particular and indeed, it’s the Coastguard that requests the RNLI to launch, should people find themselves in difficulties at sea or on the coast. 999 is generally a number associated with the Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade, but the Coastguard is the fourth emergency service that can be reached by this number, should people be in danger at the coast or on the sea.

At Fleetwood, not only do we work closely with our SAR partners, we actually share the same building. Having a close working relationship means there is very little panic when an emergency arises and both teams have confidence in each other’s skills and knowledge.

But what area of rescue does each organisation cover?

Mark Sumner, Coastguard Station Officer at Fleetwood explains.

‘HM Coastguard is one of the Primary Search and Rescue organisations and operate from 10 Maritime Rescue CoOrdination Centres (MRCC’s) around the UK 24/7. along with the Police. The Police obviously have responsibility for landbased searches and the Coastguard for maritime searches. Both organisations can call upon other agencies for assistance, be that the RNLI, Fire Service, or ambulance.’

All Coastguard Rescue Teams are trained to operate for coastal searches, alongside police in Lost and Missing Person Searches (L&MPS), and are DEFRA recognised for Flood Rescue Response.

There are over 350 Coastguard stations in the UK, forming the Coastguard Rescue Service, all manned by volunteers, with four in Lancashire, at Morecambe, Lytham St Annes, Knott End and Fleetwood. In fact, Fleetwood is the recognised receiving port for the eastern part of the Irish Sea, should a major incident occur and all casualties would be processed through Fleetwood RNLI lifeboat station, by the Coastguard, before being handed over to other agencies.

The Coastguard have a vast array of equipment at their disposal to help with searches, including an Argocat, an eightwheel drive tracked vehicle for mud rescues, helicopters and fixed winged ‘planes. They even have two jet-skis at Arnside, at the top end of Morecambe Bay !

In 2019, Fleetwood CG was the busiest Coastguard station in the UK, with 285 callouts. 2021 was considerably busier.

Multi-agency rescues are vital in some instances. For example, if there is a missing person or boat, it would be impossible for two or even three lifeboats to search such a large area, especially when time is critical. This is where the Coastguard’s fleet of helicopters and fixed wing ‘planes are called to assist as they can help cover large areas of both land and sea, quickly.

Equally as important, once casualties are returned to port, it is often critical that they receive immediate medical attention by the experts. Paramedics are sometimes called upon to meet a lifeboat and they are generally assisted by the Coastguard.

A good example of a multi-agency rescue occurred in 2016. Two young girls, out riding across the sands at Knott End, suddenly found themselves in difficulty, when the horses sank to their stomachs in mud. The dramatic scene was witnessed by volunteers at Fleetwood RNLI, who happened to be at the lifeboat station at the time. They were requested to launch by the Coastguard and as the rescue was anticipated, the RNLI in-

National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Tower

TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE RNLI GO TO: https://rnli.org.uk/support-us

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326) and the Bailiwick of Jersey (14)

shore lifeboat arrived at the scene minutes later. Fortunately, the horses had managed to extract themselves from the mud and the riding party continued to shore. But then one of the horses, again, sank into mud. This time, extraction was more difficult. The three RNLI volunteer crew members requested immediate assistance from their colleagues across the river. The Fleetwood – Knott End ferry was requisitioned to carry them and Fleetwood Coastguard across the river to help.

Using a floating raft and life-jackets from the ferry, the rescue team started digging around the horse, which was unaware the people around were trying to help. Frightened and desperate, it thrashed around, trying to extract itself from the muddy prison it was encased in. To make matters worse, the Spring tide was coming in at some speed. Time was not on the side of either the rescuers or the horse. As the tide reached the stricken animal, one of the volunteer RNLI crew from Fleetwood, sat in the mud, holding the horse’s head above the water, whilst the others dug as quickly as they could.

Lancashire Fire Service arrived on scene, but were unable to help as the tide rose higher and higher. Such was the concern on the outcome of the operation, it was decided to call a vet from a local practice, in case time ran out and euthanasia was required.

By now, a large crowd had gathered both in Knott End and across the river in Fleetwood, people holding their breath and crossing their fingers, hoping the horse could be saved. The horse’s owner and rider, called on her steed, called Ernie, to make one big effort to rise out of the sludge. The volunteers joined in with this encouragement and each time the horse heard his name, it seemed to give it an extra spurt of energy.

The RNLI volunteer crew and Coastguards were determined to rescue the horse and as time slowly, but inevitably ran out, the horse appeared to know that there was little more that could be done. But by the horse suddenly appearing to give up and relax, it became easier to dig around it and within minutes, it was out of the potential muddy tomb and walking back to shore.

The relief was enormous, both from the rescuers and the watching throngs and spontaneous applause rang out.

The Coastguard Rescue Service isn’t the only voluntary organisation that help SAR operations. Around 30 years ago, over 300 small coastguard stations around our coasts, closed. Whilst technology and sophisticated systems are aids to improved safety, a computer cannot spot a distress flare, an overturned boat, or a yachtsman or fisherman in trouble. All vulnerable activities like canoeing, diving and wind-surfing, are made safer by visual surveillance. In addition, walkers, with or without man’s best friend off leash, are easily cut off by rising tides and everyone’s nightmare, the adventurous child drifting out to sea in an inflatable toy, are more common since the rise in Staycations

Nearly 50% of people who drown around our shores each year, have no intention of going into the sea or indeed, of even getting wet.

As such, the entirely voluntary organisation, National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) was formed in 1994, following the drowning of two fishermen within sight of an unmanned Coastguard station at Bass Point, Cornwall. The local community were so saddened by the deaths of these fishermen, they reopened the old Coastguard station and NCI was formed.

We are fortunate in Fleetwood to have NCI’s most northerly operational watch tower, at Rossall Point. Over 50 voluntary Watchkeepers assist in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the safety of people using the foreshore and beach for recreational purposes. Reporting to HM Coastguard and with occasional training sessions with RNLI Fleetwood, NCI Watchkeepers are assessed annually to ensure of their competence in an emergency.

Because of the vast expanse of sandbanks at Fleetwood, walkers being cut off by one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, is not uncommon. The higher viewpoint from their ‘station within Rossall Point tower, means that not only are they better placed to see people a long distance away, but also if they are partly hidden in the deep gullies that run parallel to the shore, thus able to assess the potential level of danger they are in.

The NCI volunteers are also able to guide the low-level in-shore lifeboat to a casualty and reduce the time a casualty may be in the water.

NCI Fleetwood has an array of technology to assist them, including radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), short wave radios and weather station, thanks to local fundraising, especially from the Goal-den Girls, who donated £7,500 in 2013, following their successful Edinburgh Marathon run.

The NCI station in Fleetwood opened in 2008, in the old Coastguard tower, where HM Coastguard kept watch, full-time in the tower, until 1996. NCI have now moved to a more modern, and considerably more comfortable and warmer tower, built by Wyre Council and was opened in 2013.

Martyn Cripps, NCI Station Manager at Rossall Point, told me how proud he is that the volunteers are operational for 365 days a year, eight hours a day in summer and six hours a day in winter. It takes an immense commitment from the volunteer Watchkeepers and they’ve always been very fortunate to have help and support from the local community in Fleetwood.

The RNLI has a fantastic reputation for its life-saving service at sea, but on occasions, the support of our SAR partners is vital, and necessary, in reducing casualty numbers.

There are a number of volunteering opportunities available across the RNLI. Some supporters think that you can only volunteer as crew and aren’t aware of ‘land-based’ roles that are essential to saving lives at sea. To find out more on how you can support the charity visit https://rnli.org.uk/support-us

Mark Sumner, Fleetwood Coastguard Station Officer Fleetwood CG on a mud rescue Ernie the horse during the multi-agency rescue at Knott End in 2016