Three rescues in Morecambe Bay

On Sunday March 13, members of Morecambe’s RNLI inshore rescue hovercraft crew were on a training exercise near Heysham when they identified one of the local professional fishermen had run aground on a sandbank.

The shrimper was not in any immediate danger and declined any assistance.

They were then tasked to remain on the scene until the fishing boat had re-floated and was clearly able to return to its mooring unaided.

After returning to station, the crew had only just finished refuelling and washing the hovercraft down when they were asked to go to the assistance of a couple who had been cut off by the tide, whilst walking their three dogs, about a mile off Morecambe golf course.

The grateful couple, visitors from Yorkshire, had been spotted by vigilant local coastguard team members and were not aware that they had been cut off until the hovercraft approached them. They and their dogs were taken on board and returned safely to shore.

Shortly afterwards, other volunteer crew members on exercise in the inshore lifeboat, responded to shouts for assistance from a jet-skier, who had experienced engine failure, by towing him back to his launch site.

Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Kevin Jackson, said: “It was a busy day for us and the couple walking their dogs were very fortunate to be spotted as there is no way that they could have returned to shore unaided. Fortunately, on this occasion, we were able to prevent a tragedy occurring.

“We would advise people not to be tempted to walk out too far from the shore, as it is easy to get cut off by the tide or become stuck in quicksand or mud.”