[M]orecambe’s RNLI inshore lifeboat, after a request from the Coastguard, go to the assistance of three fishermen who had been cut off by the tide.
At 12.30pm, on Saturday 27 May 2017, Morecambe’s RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were launched on a training exercise when they were tasked by the coastguard to go to the assistance of three local, adult fishermen who had been stranded on rocks off Throbshaw Point, near Heysham, after being cut off by the tide.
When the inshore lifeboat arrived on scene, they were all standing in water and the decision was taken to take two fishermen on board and ferry them to shore; leaving a member of the volunteer lifeboat crew and the remaining fisherman on the rock. The inshore lifeboat then returned to pick them up; by which time they were both stood in deep water.
All the fishermen, who were by this time very cold and wet, were put ashore at Half-Moon Bay. One was treated for a cut by members of the crew, before all three were passed into the care of the local coastguard team.
Morecambe RNLI volunteer helmsman, Trevor McMeekin, said: “We strongly advise anyone going onto the shore, for whatever reason, to check the time and height of the tide beforehand. Particularly when we are experiencing high Spring tides, as we are at the moment, it is very easy to become cut off. This incident could have ended very differently.”