Cowes RNLI Crew Experiences Busiest Day Of The Year With Four Callouts

(c) RNLI/Sofia Voudouroglou

Cowes RNLI volunteers faced their busiest day of 2025 so far last Thursday (11 September), launching their lifeboat four times between dawn and late evening.

The first shout came at 5.45am, when crews headed to the Solent to provide safety cover for the famous Bramble Bank cricket match, played each year on the exposed sandbank between Southampton and Cowes.

Soon after the match ended, at around 7.20am, Cowes and Calshot RNLI crews were called to help a young man suffering breathing difficulties and hypothermia after playing cricket in the water.

He was treated with a nebuliser and foil blanket before being transferred to shore and met by paramedics.

Even as that incident unfolded, Cowes RNLI was diverted to a second call — a 30ft yacht aground at Lepe Spit with two people on board.

With worsening conditions, the crew managed to tow the vessel clear on the rising tide and safely escort it into Southampton Water.

Later that evening, at around 6.45pm, Cowes RNLI was tasked to a RIB swamped by a rogue wave off Egypt Point.

Seven people were rescued with help from Yarmouth RNLI, before the RIB was towed to Trinity Landing where Coastguard teams and paramedics were waiting.

No sooner had they secured the boat than Cowes and Yarmouth lifeboats were called to assist police and Coastguard with another incident in Ryde.

The exhausted crew finally returned to station at 9.10pm, having spent more than seven hours on the water that day.

Helm Myles praised the volunteers, saying:

“Some of our crew responded to all four shouts — a huge commitment.

"It shows the strength of teamwork between RNLI stations and other emergency services.

"We’re proud to play our part in keeping people safe at sea.”