Hunstanton Lifeboat crews called out twice during heatwave

Thursday 22nd July was a busy day for the Hunstanton Lifeboat station.

At 1.35pm UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Hunstanton RNLI Hovercraft in response to reports of 6 people cut off by the tide on Scolthead Island at Brancaster.

When the hovercraft arrived it was reported that everyone had made it back to the mainland unaided. This was confirmed by the hovercraft crew's visual search. As the  hovercraft was about to return to station, the crew was alerted to a report of a kite surfer in trouble off the lighthouse. The young lad had got into trouble with his kite and his mother and younger brother informed the recovery team on the beach of his plight. The young lad had made it to the beach, and hover crew recovered his kite. Thankfully he was OK.

At 5.35 the UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Hunstanton Lifeboat in response to a report of people being swept out to sea on inflatables opposite the boathouse. Hunstanton lifeboat crew launched and made a rapid response to the position. A paddle boarder had also gone to assist. Three young girls had drifted out to sea. The lifeboat took two on board, and the paddle boarder brought the third girl ashore. Advice was given about the use of inflatables on the sea. Happily the girls were all ok.

The RNLI advice to visitors to the beach is not to use inflatables in tidal waters.