In a tense scene at Folkestone Harbour, two people were rescued from the water by the Folkestone Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) after getting into difficulty while rowing a tender to a moored vessel. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on October 8, when a man and a woman found themselves in a precarious situation: the man was caught by a rope with his head barely above water, while the woman struggled as water poured into the tender.
The Folkestone CRT, along with the Langdon CRT, swiftly responded to the emergency, supported by the Dover Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, which dispatched an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Littlestone. However, with help still on the way and the situation worsening, the decision was made for Coastguard Rescue Officer (CRO) Tom Nunnen-Wills to perform a water rescue.
Equipped with a lifejacket and a line securely held by his team, Tom entered the water, carefully approaching the man to avoid triggering panic. He managed to free the man from the tangled ropes, and both were safely pulled back to shore by the Coastguard team. Tom then returned to assist the woman in the tender, stabilizing the small boat as he and the second casualty were hauled to safety.
Both individuals were uninjured but were attended to by the South East Ambulance Service as a precaution. Reflecting on the rescue, Tom said, “The adrenaline was running…we had to make a quick decision. Afterwards, it was rewarding to know our training had paid off.”
He emphasized the importance of safety precautions for boating, including wearing a lifejacket and carrying a personal locator beacon. The Coastguard reminds boaters that unexpected circumstances can arise quickly and that proper safety measures are crucial for every journey.
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