Lifeboat answers Christmas call-out

Dec 27 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Hoylake Lifeboat makes it's way out over the sand _320

THE lifeboat crew from New Brighton had their Christmas celebrations curtailed after being called to reports of a car seen plunging into the Mersey.

It was the RNLI crew’s 60th job of the year after being scrambled by the Coastguard late on Christmas Day.

The crew were called to a site near Liverpool’s Waterloo Dock at about 10.30pm following claims a car had been pushed or driven into the river.

Last night the Coastguard said it is now believed the car had been pushed in the Mersey and four youths had been seen running from the area.

The car is believed to have sunk and rolled into the river.

Cliff Downing, operations manager at New Brighton RNLI, said: “Two alerts were given; one that a car had been driven at speed into the river, and a second saying that some people had pushed the car over the river wall.

“In those type of cases we have to investigate.”

“It was below the surface of the water, and no-one was believed to be involved after investigations.”

The RNLI crew – David Lowe, Matt Gill, Mike Plaskett and senior helmsman Mike Jones – returned to the boat house at about 12.30am on Boxing Day.

After washing and refuelling the lifeboat, they headed home at about 1am.

Tony Clare of the RNLI said 60 jobs in a year was more than normal for New Brighton as, historically, the station averaged one callout a week.

“Sixty certainly is busy for the year, but last year we had 80 callouts which was exceptional.

“It has been busy for the lifeboat and the hovercraft. A lot of it is people being cut off by the tide and also out in boats that break down.

“With a bit more preparation, a lot of situations could be avoided.”

HOYLAKE’S RNLI crew and supporters are celebrating after their appeal to help fund a new lifeboat station and lifeboat reached £500,000 after just three months.

The RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station Appeal launched in September and aims to raise £2m by the end of 2009 to help provide Hoylake lifeboat crew with the essential facilities and equipment they need to carry on saving lives at sea.

To contribute to the appeal, call 0845 650 3999, log on to rnli.org.uk/hoylakeappeal or send a donation to RNLI Hoylake Appeal, Admail 4049, Hoylake, CH47 1AA.

davidbartlett