Date: 27/12/2011
Author: Paul Nicholson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
Volunteers from Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station this afternoon took part in a large scale multi agency rescue mission after HM Coastguard received a report of a man lying injured at the base of cliffs at Camel Island, South Tyneside.
The rescue mission was launched shortly before 01:15pm when Coastguard Officers based at Humber Coastguard MRCC (Marine Rescue Coordination Centre) received a 999 emergency telephone call from a member of the public reporting what they believed was a man lying injured at the base of cliffs at marker post 41 (Camel Island, South Tyneside).
Officers immediately contacted the duty Launching Authority at Sunderland RNLI to request the launch of their D Class inshore lifeboat MyJo as well as tasking a Coastguard Rescue Team from Sunderland along with a Search & Rescue Helicopter from RAF Boulmer , a rope rescue team from Tyne & Wear Fire Brigade, paramedics from North East Ambulance, and officers from Northumbria Police.
The lifeboat launched seven minutes later with three RNLI volunteers onboard under the command of Helmsman Ian Rowan.
Paul Nicholson, Senior Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said: ‘Shortly after arriving at the scene; it was confirmed by Fire Fighters and the Helicopter crew that the initial sighting was not a person but a pile of loose rocks. Once it was confirmed that this was the object sighted by the initial informant; all of the emergency teams were released from the incident.’
As a registered charity the RNLI relies on voluntary donations and legacies from the public for its income.