Both the inshore lifeboat Claire and David Delves and the all weather lifeboat Diamond Jubilee at Ramsgate RNLI were called out yesterday (October 22) to reports of a solo swimmer seven miles out from Ramsgate Harbour, just south of Thanet Windfarm.
A merchant vessel had reported seeing what they believed to be a person in the water swimming with a blue float behind them.
Crews were tasked to the scene 3:17pm by UK Coastguard. The weather conditions were good with a calm sea state.
The Coastguard Helicopter SR363 arrived on the scene first and began their search with the inshore lifeboat arriving a few minutes later at 3:35pm.
The helicopter reported a sighting of a blue 20 litre fishing pot attached to a black fishing pot marker which would have appeared to be a person in the water towing a float.
The inshore lifeboat and its volunteer crew were tasked to come alongside and check. It was attached to the seabed at exactly the position originally given to the Coastguard by the commercial vessel.
The all weather was close to approaching the coordinates when the coastguard stood both boats down reporting it as a false alarm with good intent.
As all three assets were together a request was made by the Helicopter crew to carry out an impromptu exercise winch drop and permission was granted for the helicopter crew to land a crew member onto the all weather lifeboat and also the inshore lifeboat.
After the exercise both boats returned to Ramsgate station.
the words – should have gone to specsavers comes to mind
The words, you’re a plonker and better safe than sorry, come to mind.