New boat ideal for choppy water rescue in Littlehampton

LIFEGUARDS protecting sun-seekers on Littlehampton’s beach have been given a new tool to save lives.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Sep 2013, 16:00 BST
Members of the West Kent Freemasons donate the new lifeboat, Mandalay, to Littlehamptons RNLI lifeguardsMembers of the West Kent Freemasons donate the new lifeboat, Mandalay, to Littlehamptons RNLI lifeguards
Members of the West Kent Freemasons donate the new lifeboat, Mandalay, to Littlehamptons RNLI lifeguards

As the newly-installed RNLI lifeguards’ first season watching over the coastal stretch came to a close, over the weekend, they were presented with a new inshore rescue boat.

The vessel, which was officially named Mandalay at a ceremony on Sunday (September 8), was presented to the RNLI by the members of the West Kent Freemasons, who raised £9,500 to pay for the craft.

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The boat was then put through its paces in a mock-rescue exercise in the sea.

Accepting Mandalay on behalf of the RNLI, lifeguard manager Rory Smith told the masons: “The inshore rescue boat is the workhorse of the lifeguard fleet. Thanks to your generous donations, the boat named here today will help the RNLI continue in its mission to save lives at sea.”

Light enough to be operated by two lifeguards, the boat is tested to operate in heavy surf and designed to rescue multiple casualties in swift-flowing water.

Related topics:RNLI