Home / Disasters and Accidents / Lost lifeboat washes ashore on Devon beach
Lost lifeboat washes ashore on Devon beach
21 Dec
Summary
- A lifeboat from a cargo ship washed ashore on Sidmouth Beach.
- The lifeboat was reported missing on Wednesday and tracked by coastguard.
- Local lifeboat crews secured the vessel and removed flares to prevent hazards.
A lifeboat from a cargo ship has made an unexpected landing on Sidmouth Beach, Devon. HM Coastguard teams were first alerted to the drifting vessel on Sunday morning after it had been reported missing from its parent ship on Wednesday.
Coastguard teams had been tracking the lifeboat since it was reported missing but were uncertain of its final destination. The Beer Coastguard Rescue Team was dispatched to secure the lifeboat and safely remove its flares. The Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat was also called out to assist.
Recognizing the significant risk of the vessel breaking up overnight due to the evening tide, a decision was made to recover it. The Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat crew utilized their winch tractor to relocate the lifeboat to a secure and accessible spot at the Clifton slipway, completing the operation successfully. Devon and Cornwall Police, the Receiver of Wreck, and the Environment Agency have been informed of the incident.
