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Lifejackets Found On Abandoned Inflatable Off The Isle Of Wight

Bembridge Lifeboat was launched to investigate a large, floating inflatable - with lifejackets on board.

Bembridge RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat first launched yesterday (Wednesday) to investigate a report of a black RIB drifting some 20 miles South of Bembridge.

RNLB Alfred Albert Williams was launched at 10.25am this morning at the request of UK Coastguard to investigate a report of an eight-metre RIB that had been spotted drifting, with no-one onboard.

The Coastguard helicopter - Rescue 175 - had also been tasked, and by the time that the lifeboat reached its designated search area, the helicopter had located the RIB and confirmed that there was nobody on-board, but there were some lifejackets visible.

On reaching the inflatable, which had a 40hp outboard engine, the crew was able to deflate the tubes and bring it on board through the transom flap.

The lifeboat returned to Bembridge by 1.15pm.

A Bembridge RNLI spokesperson said that Border Force will make arrangements to dispose of the inflatable in due course.

Bembridge RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat (RNLB Alfred Albert Williams) launched mid-morning to investigate a report of a...

Posted by Bembridge RNLI on Wednesday, December 22, 2021

 

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