Lifeboat Aids Drifting Dingy
Minehead’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were called out on Sunday morning following reports of a small dingy drifting off Blue Anchor
Following a 999 call to HM Coastguard from a concerned fisherman on Blue Anchor Beach the stations Atlantic 85 Lifeboat with Volunteer Helmsman Paul Arnold in command was launched at approximately 09.15 hrs and proceeded to the last known position.
With the ride receding there was a real risk that the small craft would be carried further out to sea and down channel. The crew spotted the dingy with two men on board approximately one and a half miles off Blue Anchor Beach attempting to row with just one paddle although both were wearing life jackets.
Helmsman Arnold advised the men to take a tow back to Blue Anchor but the reluctant pair seemed unaware of the potential danger they were in. A decision was made to escort the pair back to Blue Anchor after offering some sea safety advice.
Commenting on the incident Lifeboat Operations Manager Dr John Higgie “it seems that the two men were unaware of the tidal conditions and felt confident that they could return to shore unaided. If the Lifeboat had not intercepted the dingy they would have surely drifted further out to sea and put themselves in danger”
