Motor Boat Aground on Main Beach

The team was tasked this evening following a number of 999 calls about a motor boat which broke free from its mooring and came aground half on and half off the Mowlem slipway.

A number of members of public entered the water to try and help move it, but there was a degree of confusion and a risk of injuries to them - crushed feet etc - and so once the team arrived it took control of the situation and asked the members of public to return the beach.  Some folks had tried to pull the boat further onto the beach, but our preference was to try and refloat it - a boat marooned on the main beach on the busiest week of the year would not be ideal with the security and pollution risks and the inevitable issues of moving it.

Appropriately dressed in drysuits, boots and lifejackets, and with a tether to a buddy on the shore, a number of Coastguards went into the water to move the boat away from the slipway where there was a risk of it being holed and of subsequent pollution.

The RNLI was requested owing to the number of people in the sea and as safety cover for the Coastguard team.

The team pushed and manoeuvred the vessel, timing each push with the larger waves until the boat floated free.  Shortly afterwards, the lifeboat arrived and with the risk to personnel now gone. it took the vessel under tow and took it to the boat park slip where is was loaded onto a trailer.

Many thanks to those called 999 and to those who tried to assist.  However, please don't put yourself at risk.  Some folks could have lost toes had the boat landed on on them, and there's always the potential for slipping and being caught under the boat.