Friday 4th May

Just after 10am  Liverpool Coastguard received a 999 emergency call from a very concerned man who had been fishing on a sandbank and was cut off by the rising tide at Pilling Sands, North of Knott End.

Liverpool Coastguard tasked the Knott End Coastguard Rescue Team to the area and requested the launch of the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Fleetwood.

As the tide was rushing in so quickly the stranded man became more anxious, the water level was quickly rising so Liverpool Coastguard requested more units to assist. However the lifeboat reached the man just as the water had risen to his waist.

Liverpool Coastguard Watch Manager, Paul Parkes said,

As the water levels rose it became harder to locate this man and he became more and more concerned. It is vital to always check tide times and locations. This man was recovered from the water by the ILB crew and returned to Knott End. He did not require medical attention, but his life had been literally saved by the skills of the Fleetwood crew.

Sunday 2nd September

Both boats called out at 22-30 to help a 32 foot yacht aground at Wyre Light. The vessel floated an hour or so later and was escorted back to Fleetwood.

2008...

Thursday 31st January

At 20-00 hrs this evening we were notified that a vessel was in difficulties 10 miles west off Rossall Point. When we found out that the vessel was the Riverdance Ferry,  we immediately knew the severity of the situation. The ferry is nearly 120 metres in length carrying containers and wagons, on route from Warren Point to Heysham.

The evening was particularly stormy. Fifty five knot, force 10 winds, were lashing the coast and it took us about 60 minutes to reach her in the huge seas.

The ferry which was drifting beam - on,  to the weather and was listing over at 45 degrees. She had 23 persons aboard, including 4 passengers. The angle she was leaning made it hard to imagine just why she didn't roll right over. She was in about 35 feet of water at that time but the wind was blowing her steadily towards the Fylde coast.

We arrived shortly after the RAF helicopter 122 from Valley and along with our friends on Lytham Lifeboat. The helicopter decided that winching was possible so the Master of the vessel said it was his wish to evacuate the passengers and some of the crew at that time. Winching started at 10-00 pm.

The helicopter pilot requested that the 2 lifeboats stood - by,  on the far side of the vessel,  with our search lights as reference points to help the winching operations. We were also available if the vessel suffered a total capsize which might have resulted in persons in the water.

Initially 14 persons were taken off the vessel with the help of 2 other helicopters from the Navy and the Coastguard, and by 11-00 pm she was aground, just off  Cleveleys.

The Master and the remaining crew elected to stay aboard the vessel to attempt to reduce the leaning of the vessel and refloat her on the next tide at 6-00am next morning.  We were therefore asked to stand down at midnight and we returned to station - a further 90 minutes through testing seas.

Reaching the station at about 01-30 hrs Friday morning, it was heartening to see that most of the crew left behind the previous evening had stayed up to help us on our return.

Our time ashore was short lived. At just before 05-00 hrs on the Friday morning  we were launching again in response to a second mayday. The Master had decided that conditions aboard were far too dangerous and immediate evacuation of himself and his remaining crew was necessary. We were tasked once again to stand - by,  to assist the extremely tricky winching operations.

When we reached the vessel, we saw that she was now leaning the opposite way, leaning out to sea. The waves were now smashing over her lower side causing more disruption to the cargo on deck. Still aground with trailers aboard visibly open and spilling their contents into the sea. The remaining 9 persons were successfully removed by the helicopter crews and we stayed on scene until day break to get a closer look at the stricken vessel before returning to station.

Wednesday 6th February

The ALB was tasked at 22-30 hrs to search for possible casualties following the sighting of what was thought to be 3 hand held red flares,  2 or so miles out. The ALB extensively searched the area for a couple of hours but nothing was found. It was thought that the informant had in fact seen distant lights,  on an evening that had experienced exceptionally good visibility.

Sunday 10th February

The ILB was called out at 15-00 hrs to help a diving RIB with 5 persons aboard that had suffered electrical problems off Fleetwood. The boat was safely returned to Knott End slip

Lifeboat Day 2nd August

As is often the case on Lifeboat Day, we got a couple of callouts. A simple tow job in the morning by the ILB immediately followed by the rescue of a kite surfer in trouble off Marine Beach

His kite would not re-launch and he was getting dragged under. He was unable to operate the quick release and was in fear of his life. The ILB crew made their way from the marina as quickly as possible and got to him just in time.

Later that day, whist the evening party was taking place,  both boats were out to respond to a Mayday sent by a stricken yacht at Wyre Light. The yacht was recovered from the mussel bank and towed back to Fleetwood to the great relief of her crew.

6th August

ALB was launched to help a stricken trawler north of Walney Island. She was towed back to Fleetwood and put in the dock.

25th October

Just after lunchtime, a call was received from the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry which had suffered engine problems and was being pushed against Knott End slipway by strong winds and tides.

Both boats were launched to assist. The ILB crew skilfully managed to get a line aboard her and managed to pull her off the slipway with the help of the Neil - a small dredger.

2009

13th May

The ILB was launched to help the power boat Sea Fox with engine problems. The crew towed back the vessel with motorcycle ace Carl Fogarty aboard

23rd May

The ILB was launched to attend to a yacht aground on Tiger's Tail Fleetwood

25th May

The ALB went to the top of the channel to tow a yacht back to the marina

23rd July                                                             

At 2.30am this morning Fleetwood All Weather Lifeboat was launched following a distress call from a yacht in Morecambe Bay. Rough seas and driving winds hampered the rescue but with assistance from a Heysham Ferry the craft was eventually taken under tow and returned to Fleetwood.

The Fleetwood crew were called out to assist the casualty by Liverpool Coastguard following the distress call from the single handed yacht. The yacht had got into difficulties when rigging from the sails had broken free and became wrapped around the vessels propeller. Once on scene we assessed the situation and it became quickly apparent that one of the crew would have to board the yacht. The casualty was suffering from seasickness and it was therefore unsafe for him to secure a towline from the lifeboat. Due to high winds and rough seas the transfer of a crew member became very difficult. It was then that the Seatruck ferry ‘Clipper Panama’ was passing the scene. The Captain of the Clipper Panama was asked to turn his vessel around and offer shelter close by the casualty to try and eliminate some of the wind factor. Happy to oblige the Clipper Panama acted as a wind break allowing the lifeboat mechanic Steve Carroll to jump aboard the stricken yacht. The yacht was then taken under tow and returned back to Fleetwood. The ALB returned to station at 0600 hours.