Margate’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew responded yesterday (July 20) to a report of a dinghy in difficulties and also to a member of the public with a head wound following a fall outside the lifeboat station.
UK Coastguard received a report around 7pm of a small dinghy with a single occupant possibly in difficulties off Palm Bay, a mile east of the lifeboat station. The inshore lifeboat was tasked to investigate and identified an inflatable dinghy on the beach at the reported location.
Margate’s Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked and directed the lifeboat to small vessels anchored close to a tanker in the Margate Roads anchorage, these were quickly identified as angling boats not in need of assistance.
Meanwhile the coastguard team approached the dinghy ashore and established the occupant was safe and well. Left in the care of coastguard officers, the inshore lifeboat returned to station.
Soon after the lifeboat was launched an elderly female took a tumble near the boathouse, suffering a head injury. The returning RNLI shore crew, which included a paramedic gave assistance until an ambulance arrived and took the lady to hospital for further treatment.