Lifeboat launched twice to rescue two people threatening to jump into the water

At 10am on Saturday October 17 Morecambe Coastguard were requested by Lancashire Police to rescue a person by Heysham Harbour who was threatening to jump into the water.

Morecambe RNLI’s inshore rescue hovercraft was launched and the volunteer crew were en-route to the area when they were advised, by the coastguard, that they could stand down because the man had been safely taken into police custody.

Four days earlier, at 12.10am on Wednesday October 14, the volunteer crew were assembled to provide support to police who were talking to a man threatening to jump in to the River Lune from Carlisle Bridge.

The inshore lifeboat and inshore rescue hovercraft were transported by road to Snatchems from where they could be launched onto the river.

On arrival at the launch site, the crew were stood down before launching, when the man surrendered himself into police custody.

Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Kevin Jackson, said: “Although it transpired that our services were not required on these occasions; no matter what the hour, we will always respond to requests for assistance when lives are at risk.”