Hayling island lifeboat station  

 

HAYLING ISLAND LIFEBOAT STATION

 
 
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Atlantic 75 lifeboat being launched
Year No of launches  
2006 93 more info
2005 66  
2004 101 more info
2003 93 more info
2002 55 more info

        

  For many of the rescues we are only able to give limited information to protect the confidentiality of the casualties.
2005
In 2005 there were 66 requests for the Hayling Island lifeboats to be tasked which resulted in 57 services afloat and 9 occasions when the crew assembled but the launches  were cancelled as the incidents were resolved.

 
No Date Boats Launch times Wind Service
65/66 Mon 19th Dec Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) 22.12 F2 Solent Coastguard received a report that a man was reported missing after  threatening to commit suicide by walking into into the sea. The lifeboats were launched but before they reached the search area the man was found on the beach and was receiving medical attention. The lifeboats returned to station at 22.30.
64 Sun 18th Dec Atlantic 75 20.49 F5 A 9m motor vessel boat reported to Solent Coastguard that it had hit a submerged object at the entrance to Chichester Harbour  deflecting it from its intended path.  It was agreed with the Coastguard not to launch until a visual investigation was completed. Crew assembled and a shore party organised.  The craft was seen approx 200 metres south of the lifeboat station and a shore party went to investigate, followed by boat crew on foot.  An inspection showed no obvious damage, the boat was mostly ashore with only the rear port quarter in the water, lying on its port side.  A decision was made by the helm and DLA to launch the lifeboat and attempt to float the boat. The lifeboat and proceeded with care in view of a possible submerged object and a tow was attached and with help from the shore crew the boat was quickly re-floated.  One of the lifeboat boat crew transferred to the vessel and an inspection carried out internally. One stern gland was found leaking but the boat was not apparently taking on water and proceeded to  Sparkes Marina under power, escorted by lifeboat.   The lifeboat was then tasked by the Coastguard  to carry out a search in the harbour channel looking for signs of any obstruction. When  nothing was seen the lifeboat returned to station at 21.25.
63 Sat 5th Nov Atlantic 75 21.35 F7 The lifeboat was launched following a report that a number of red distress flares had been seen in Chichester Harbour. The lifeboat crew searched for over an hour in both the Thorney and Emsworth Channels but no vessel or person was found to be in distress. The lifeboat returned to station at 22.40.
62 Sat 29th Oct D Class (IB1) 22.01 F6

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat after  receiving a 999 call.  The vessel had run aground the previous weekend and attempts had been made today to re-float it.  The salvage crew were evacuated by the rescue vessels after it became clear that salvage would be unsuccessful.  The skipper refused to be evacuated and was reported to be showing signs of fatigue and distress.  Solent requested that the lifeboat attend.  Once the lifeboat was on scene the skipper agreed to be taken off in the lifeboat.   The casualty was landed at the lifeboat station and given a lift to the local sailing club where accommodation had been arranged.
61 Mon 24th Oct D Class (IB1) 03.27 F6 The D Class lifeboat was launched to take the crew off the  stranded fishing vessel . [more details & picture]
60 Sun 23rd Oct Atlantic 75 ) 19.23 F4 The lifeboat was launched to a 56ft fishing boat that had run aground in Chichester Harbour. [more details & picture]
59 Sun 23rd Oct Atlantic 75 10.15 the crew assembled but launch not required   Solent Coastguard received a 999 call reporting that 4 men were cut off by tide. The crew assembled ready to launch the Atlantic 75 lifeboat but this was not required at the men were four local fisherman with chest waders on who were fly fishing.
57/58 Sun 16th Oct Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) 16.08 F1 Solent coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboats to search for a young woman windsurfer who had been missing for 90mins and was last seen off West Wittering beach. Both lifeboats searched the area and 16.22 the windsurfer was seen lying on her board. The casualty, who was unharmed,  was taken back to the beach in the D Class lifeboat and a nearby jet skier towed the board back to the beach. The Atlantic 75 lifeboat stood by whilst the D Class lifeboat returned the casualty to the beach. The lifeboats  returned to station at 16.52.
55/56 Mon 12th Sept Atlantic 75

D Class (IB1)

 16.25

Crew ready to launch but not required

 F3 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to a yacht on a mooring in Mill Rythe Creek which was on fire after an explosion . The one person onboard had been thrown into the water. "Hayling  Rescue" which was nearby retrieved the injured man who was taken to hospital with severe burns. When the lifeboat arrived on scene the lifeboat crew made sure that there was no other people in the water and stood by whilst the fire brigade dealt with the fire. The burning yacht was towed to the shore by the fire brigade using a nearby work boat.  The lifeboat went close to the yacht's dinghy which was semi inflated to tow it to the shore when a butane gas container on the dinghy exploded. No one was injured. The Coastguard helicopter and the Harbour Patrol Boat were also on scene. Once all personnel involved in the rescue were ashore, the lifeboat returned to station.
53/54 Thur 1st Sept Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1 Atlantic 75 at 01.50

D Class at 02.18

 F4

Following a request from Solent Coastguard the Atlantic 75 lifeboat was launched to locate and and assist a yacht which was thought to be off  East Wittering.  There was one person on board and his engine had failed. The lifeboat proceeded to the approx position and eventually the yacht was found in water shallower than initially reported and near West Wittering.  However the water was too shallow to get alongside the yacht and the senior helm of the Atlantic 75 called for the D class lifeboat to be launched to assist.   One of the lifeboat crew went into  the water [with lifejacket light illuminated] and he managed to wade close to the yacht. Efforts were made to set up a tow  but by then the yacht was aground.   As the tide was still falling, it was decided to secure the yacht with two anchors and the person aboard the yacht was escorted to the beach and left in the care of the coastguard's shore team. The lifeboats returned to station at 03.25.
51/52 Mon 29th Aug Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1 Launches cancelled at 17.04   Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboats to search for an autistic teenager missing along Hayling Beach. Notification came that the person had  been found before the lifeboats were launched and the lifeboat crew who had already assembled were stood down.
49/50 Mon 22nd Aug Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1 Launches cancelled at 09.10 F2 A member of the public had reported six children on ponies being swept out to sea off Barn Road, West Wittering.  Solent Coastguard requested the launch of both lifeboats. The crew assembled but before actually launching were stood down as the casualties had made their way back to the shore. All crew personnel were then stood down.
48 Sun 21st Aug Atlantic 75 15.01 F4 A small motor vessel had reported to Solent Coastguard that his engine had failed and was in need of assistance. The position given was 2.5 nm south of Chichester Harbour. As lifeboat crew were already at  station for the annual open day the lifeboat was quickly launched. When the lifeboat reached the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew established that the 3 adults onboard were OK and the vessel was towed back into Chichester Harbour.
47 Sat 20th Aug D Class (IB1) 19.52 F1 Solent Coastguard received a call that three adults and two children had been cut of by the tide off Wittering beach. The lifeboat was launched and reached the casualties who were returned safely to the beach in the lifeboat.
46 Thur 18th Aug Atlantic 75 14.20 F3 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat as they had received a report that three children were being swept out to sea on a lilo. The lifeboat crew found the children who were taken on board the lifeboat  and returned to the beach and their parents.
45 Thur 28th July Atlantic 75 12.20 F4 Solent Coastguard requested assistance to a waterlogged/inverted boat in the sea at the eastern end of Hayling Island beach.  The lifeboat arrived on scene to find a dinghy about 4m from the shore,  which was on the sea bed about 1m deep.  The tide was coming in and the swell was increasing.  Two lifeboat crew entered the water and  tried to fix a line to the craft.  This was achieved after short while and the lifeboat attempted to tow the dinghy.  However the tow eye on the dinghy sheared off as the dinghy was firmly stuck in the sand on the seabed.   It was established that there was nobody on the dinghy and it was decided with the Coastguard on scene to leave the craft in situ until low tide and attempt a further recovery then. The lifeboat then returned to station.
44 Sat 23rd July Atlantic 75 already afloat F2

At around 1.30pm the lifeboat was out on a routine training exercise in the Atlantic 75 lifeboat  in the vicinity of the Ship Inn at Langstone, which was hosting the annual charity raft race. The raft race was underway when the lifeboat arrived and as the lifeboat crew were passing the bridge they noticed someone pointing to a young boy in the water below the bridge pinned by the rip tide to one of the piers. The 12 year old boy had been fishing from the southern slip way with a net and had slipped into the water and the strong current had swept him onto the pier under the bridge and out of site of the main crowd. The lifeboat crew immediately went to the bridge put the lifeboat alongside the pier and with some difficulty, because of the fast flow of water, grabbed the boy and pulled him safely onto the lifeboat. The boy was immediately treated by the lifeboat crew for shock and returned to the shore and into the care of the St John’s Ambulance team attending the raft race. Unfortunately as the tide was at high water the lifeboat sustained slight damage to its aerial and emergency light whilst manoeuvring under the low bridge to the pier.
42/43 Thur 21st July Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) 23.43 F3 Solent Coastguard  requested the launch of both lifeboats to large wooden motor vessel with three adults on board which had a damaged propeller shaft and was sinking near the entrance to Chichester Harbour. With salvage pump running The Atlantic 75 lifeboat towed the casualty vessel to Chichester Marina where she was put on a road trailer. The D Class had gone ahead with some of the crew from the motor boat to get the car / trailer to the water. Both Lifeboats then returned to Station and were made ready for further service at 03.25.     
41 Thur 21st July D Class (IB1) 14.24 F3 The lifeboat was launched following a 999 call from a member of the public reporting two teenagers on a inflatable dinghy in difficulties off the Inn on the Beach, Hayling Island.  Once launched the lifeboat proceeded to the last reported position but after an extensive search no red inflatable dinghy could be seen and HMCG decided that they must have returned to shore and stood the ILB down. The lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service.
40 Mon 18th July Atlantic 75 18.34 F3 In response to a "Pan-Pan" Solent Coastguard requested the lifeboat to carry out a medical evacuation from a vessel located at the Fairway buoy at the entrance to the Bosham Channel in Chichester Harbour to a waiting ambulance at the Itchenor slipway. The lifeboat, with a stretcher on board, was launched and proceeded to the location. On arrival a nearby yacht had already got the casualty vessel to the Harbourmaster's pontoon and the casualty,  who had suffered a severe head and eye injury from a collapsing  revolving wind generator, was ashore in the care of the waiting ambulance crew. The yacht then towed the casualty vessel to a mooring where they had made it fast. They and the lifeboat crew then cleaned and tidied up the boat after the incident before handing the vessel into the care of the Deputy Harbourmaster. Ascertaining there was no more assistance required the lifeboat returned to station where it and the crew equipment were thoroughly cleaned and made ready for further service.
39 Mon 18th July Atlantic 75 15.34 F5 Solent Coastguard requested the lifeboat to assist a broken-down RIB with 2 people on board at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. The Atlantic 75 was duly launched and made its way in considerable surf to the casualty who was at anchor  in the vicinity of the northern wreck on the East Pole Sands. A crew member was put aboard the RIB  and clothed the ill-clad casualties in space blankets. A tow was then established and the journey to Chichester Harbour begun. On the way the lifeboat crew became concerned about the condition of the two 16 year-old casualties and transferred them to the lifeboat. Abandoning the tow and leaving the RIB at anchor near the main channel into Chichester Harbour with a crewman aboard the lifeboat rapidly brought the casualties to the Hayling Lifeboat station where they were attended by the station paramedic. The lifeboat returned to the RIB where the tow was re-established and the vessel was taken into Sparkes Marina by which time the casualties were deemed fit to leave and be reunited with their craft. .The lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for further service at 16.51.
38 Sun 17th July Atlantic 75 15.10 F2 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to two people reported to be in difficulty and in the water 200m off the South Hayling shore. The lifeboat launched but before it reached the casualties the lifeboat crew received a  report from Solent Coastguard that the two youths had reached the shore safely. The lifeboat then returned to station.
37 Sun 10th July Atlantic 75 21.40 F1

The lifeboat was launched  to take over the tow from Bembridge Tyne Class lifeboat which was towing a motor vessel with complete electrical failure  into Chichester  Harbour. The Hayling Island lifeboat met the Bembridge lifeboat 2 nautical miles south of the entrance to Chichester Harbour and towed the motor boat back into Sparkes Marina in Chichester Harbour .
36 Sun 10th July D Class (IB1) 20.45 F0 Lifeboat crew saw a dinghy being rowed very slowly back into Chichester Harbour . There was no wind the tide was at the end of the ebb. With light fading the lifeboat was launched  and made her way carefully onto the Winner Bank as tide was exceptionally low. Once alongside, a tow was set up and the casualty was towed to Cobnor Point Activities Centre, Chichester Harbour. Once secured, the lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service.
35 Sat 9th July D Class (IB1) 18.20 F1 Solent Coastguard had received a VHF radio call requesting assistance. The vessel, a Westerley Cirrus had become stranded on the mud flats in the Emsworth Channel. The falling tide and lessoning wind had caused them to drift onto the bank.  As the D Class was available in the general area, the D Class  was tasked to assist. Once alongside, the lifeboat crew set up a tow line and despite the falling tide, managed to pull them off the bank. The tow was released and the yacht then continued its passage. The lifeboat then returned to Station and made ready for further service.
34 Sat 9th July D Class (IB1 17.54 F1 Solent Coastguard had received a call from a female member of the public reporting that her husband and two children were overdue. They were in a Skipper sailing dinghy, with diminishing wind the tide was receding it was believed that they were  having difficulties returning to Emsworth against the ebbing tide. The lifeboat was launched and once on scene, the lifeboat crew ascertained that all was well and that the sailing dinghy was already under tow by another vessel. It was at this point that the lifeboat was tasked to a different incident above.
33 Sat 9th July Atlantic 75 16.07 F2 It was observed from the boathouse that a windsurfer was in difficulties due south of West Wittering.  The lifeboat was launched and once on scene, took the windsurfer aboard. All was well and he was taken back to the West Wittering beach where he was landed. The Lifeboat returned to station.
32 Mon 4th July Atlantic 75 16.57 F4

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat  to assist a windsurfer who was in difficulty off Bracklesham Bay.    Immediately after launching a message was received from the Coastguard saying that the casualty had managed to return to shore under his own power. The lifeboat returned to station.
31 Sun 3rd July D Class (IB1 14.45 F3/4

During routine operations  a member of the lifeboat crew observed tyre marks leading from a nearby broken  fence  towards the sea. It was decided to report this to the police who attended.  After further investigations it was believed a car may have been driven into the sea during the early hours of the morning.  The Coastguard then attended and  a passing fishing boat was called in and with his echo sounder and confirmed that something was below him.   The position was marked by the Chichester Harbourmaster who was on scene.  Divers  were called in by the police.  They arrived at 14.35 .   The D boat was launched at 14.45 to assist the diving operation.   The diver went under at 15.00  and shortly reported a car on the sea bed.   The RNLI county tractor was then brought forward and a rope cable and shackles attached to the car with assistance of the lifeboat crew. The car was then pulled from the sea by the tractor winch at 15.40.  It was removed shortly after by a tow truck called in by the police. 15.56. The lifeboat returned to station at 15.50. The car did not have any passengers.
29/30 Tue 28th June Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) Atlantic 75 at 19.30 & the D Class at 21.35 F3 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboats to be afloat and on standby in the event of any vessel getting into difficulties whilst attending the International Fleet Review in the Eastern Solent area. There were many hundreds of boats there. The lifeboats returned to station around 00.45 . During this period the Atlantic lifeboat assisted a vessel that had got into difficulties near the submarine barrier and  at 23.25 the D Class lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard to look for a RIB that had run aground but the owner was unsure of his position. The RIB was found by Portsmouth RNLI lifeboat in Langstone Harbour and the D Class escorted the RIB back into Chichester Harbour.
27/28 Sun 19th June Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) c 3.30 F5 Whilst out on the previous service, lifeboat crew saw an orange flare in the sky slightly south of a line between the lifeboat station and Selsey Bill. Solent Coastguard requested a comprehensive search and both lifeboats were launched to search the Bracklesham Bay area down to Selsey Bill and offshore. After a number of parallel runs, with no vessel in distress found, it was decided to call the search off and both lifeboats returned to the station and 04.55.
26 Sun 19thJUne Atlantic 75 01.56 F5

Solent Coast guard requested launch of the lifeboat to assist a 19.5ft Cornish Shrimper which had  attempted to enter Bembridge Harbour when he hit the bottom and broke his centre plate adjustment wire. The skipper of the vessel decided to motor which subsequently failed. The vessel with two adults onboard was towed by the lifeboat to Sparkes Marina, Chichester Harbour. The lifeboat then returned to station and made ready for further service at 03.30.
25 Sat 18th June Atlantic 75 15.36 F4 The lifeboat assisted a sailing dinghy with two adults onboard that had capsized and had a broken rudder one nautical mile south of the Chichester Bar Beacon. The lifeboat crew gave assistance and the dinghy was able to proceed.
24 Sun 12th June Atlantic 75 10.040 F4 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to assist a dory that had broken down and dragging its anchor in Bracklesham Bay.  The lifeboat was launched and proceeded to locate the casualty via a vessel which was standing by.   The lifeboat crew established that the two people on the dory were safe. The engine was restarted and the dory  then began to proceed towards the entrance of Chichester Harbour escorted by the lifeboat.  The lifeboat then returned to station and made ready for further service at 11.30.
23 Sat 11th June Atlantic 75 22.18 F2

Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to  a motor vessel with 3 adults onboard which had lost power in the vicinity of the Chalk Dock mark in Chichester Harbour.  The lifeboat crew reached the small open motor boat at 22.27 and and found that the boat's engine was now running. The lifeboat escorted the motor boat to Itchenor. The lifeboat then returned to station and made ready for further service at 23.42.
21/22 Tue 31st May Atlantic 75 & D Class (IB1) D Class Launched at 14.04, lifeboat crew assembled for the Atlantic 75 but launch cancelled at 14.05 F1 Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboats to assist in the search for two missing children on Wittering Beach. The lifeboat crew assembled.  The D Class lifeboat was launched but before the Atlantic lifeboat was launched fortunately the children were found safe and well and both lifeboats were stood down.
20 Mon 30th May Atlantic 75 15.27 F2

Solent Coastguard received two 999 messages about a kitesurfer in trouble 1/2 mile out in Hayling Bay and being swept east.   The lifeboat was was launched.  Hayling Coastguard established a visual on the casualty and directed the lifeboat to the casualty.  The Kitesurfer was well and returned to the beach at Gunners Point. The Lifeboat then returned to station and made ready for further service at 16.17.
19 Sun 29thMay Atlantic 75 10.30 F2

Whilst on exercise in the vicinity of the West Pole Beacon south of Chichester Harbour, Solent Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to a motorboat broken down east of the Nab Tower.  Once on scene, the vessel was taken in tow and taken to a position near Dean Tail buoy to rendezvous with Portsmouth RNLI lifeboat who took over the tow up into Portsmouth Harbour. The Hayling lifeboat then returned to station and made ready for further service.
18 Sun 29th May D Class (IB1) 10.30 F2 Whilst on exercise in the vicinity of Fishery buoy inside Chichester Harbour, the lifeboat was waved down by a 42' Princess with steering difficulties. In fact, no steering at all but the skipper was steering by using her engines. As it was the Bank holiday weekend, there was a lot of vessel traffic in the harbour so the Helm agreed to escort the casualty and provide forward warning to oncoming vessels due to the casualty's inability to manoeuvre. The casualty was escorted to Northney Marina, north Hayling Is. inside Chichester Harbour. Once secured alongside, the Lifeboat returned to station and made ready for further service.
17 Sat 28th May Atlantic 75 launch cancelled at 16.37 F6 A yacht was seen leaving Chichester Harbour approx 500mtrs the wrong side of a green channel marker and enter breaking waves to the east of Chichester Bar.