Two callouts for Rye RNLI during open day

The relief lifeboat B-875 Alexander launched at 12.04pm on Sunday, July 19, to assist a dog and its owner who were in the River Rother.

The volunteer crew arrived on scene two minutes later where they brought the dog and owner safely ashore.

The visitors at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Stations Open Weekend thought that it was a demonstration rescue but when they found out it was a real lifeboat shout they did not believe it.

One visitor said: “They just stopped what they were doing and were gone.

“They went from laughing to serious in the blink of an eye.”

The afternoon visitors were also treated to a lifeboat shout, when relief RNLI Lifeboat B-875 Alexander launched on service at 2.45pm to a speedboat that had broken down.

When the volunteer crew arrived alongside the casualty, the owner had managed to restart the engine so the crew towed them off the bank and then escorted them back to the public slipway.

The Open Weekend raised a total of £1131.57.

Acting lifeboat operations manager at Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station Tony Edwards said: “On behalf of everyone here at Rye Harbour I would like to thank all the visitors and supporters who made this weekend a great success.

“Special thanks go to Dungeness RNLI Lifeboat Crew, Rother Responders and South East Coast Ambulance service for attending our Open Weekend.

“With the school holidays starting very shortly, we would like to remind you that when at the coast, if you see anyone in danger dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”

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