Busy weekend for Southend RNLI and Coastguard volunteers (From Echo)

Busy weekend for Southend RNLI and Coastguard volunteers

9:54am Sunday 12th August 2012 in News

AS thousands of people flocked to Southend seafront to make the most of the summer sun this weekend, RNLI and Coastguard volunteers were kept busy.

From reports of missing children to wayward inflatables, they ensured visitors enjoyed their time in the water safely.

Whilst the Southend Coastguard was patrolling the beach on Friday evening he was approached by worried parents who had lost their four year-old child.

The lifeboat was quickly dispatched to search for the youngster, but they were soon found safe and well by a Pier and Foreshore inspector and returned to their mum and dad.

Thames Coastguard were alerted to a similar incident at 4.45pm on Saturday when a distressed mother rang 999 to report her eight year-old daughter missing in the water off Southend seafront.

Lifeboats were tasked with the search, but stepped down when the girl was safely returned to her mother.

Volunteers also stepped in to help a group of swimmers in the Mulberry Harbour, off the coast of Shoebury, who were at risk of being cut off by the tide at 2.20pm on Saturday.

The Southend RNLI lifeboat and hovercraft safely brought a number of the people ashore, whilst the remaining were able to make their way back unaided.

Other incidents included the sighting of an inflatable wheel close to Southend Pier at 6pm on Saturday, which the lifeboat soon discovered was empty and were able to bring ashore.

At around 6.20pm on Saturday the RNLI lifeboat was tasked to tow an 18ft broken down cabin boat, Lisa Marie, safely to a mooring after it was spotted drifting away from Southend Pier.

A charter boat, Growler, was able to keep the vessel in position until the crew arrived.