News

LIFEBOAT RESCUES CRICKETERS FROM FLOODED WICKET

A rescue helicopter and three lifeboats were scambled to the Goodwin Sands, off Deal this morning (13July) to rescue  thirteen cricketers playing a match o­n the sands.

Dover Coastguard were alerted  at half past ten to the vessel 'Windrider' which reported that she was in some difficulty at the northern tip of the Goodwin Sands. The rigid hull inflatable boat with 13 passengers o­n board had been swamped after the anchor dragged and the vessel swung round.

The passengers were o­n the Goodwin Sands at the time and had been playing a game of cricket filmed by a BBC camera crew.

The Sands  were due to flood at 10.45, but the passengers were caught by the rising tide which swamped the inflatable.

A rescue helicopter from Wattisham was launched, and the RNLI inshore lifeboats from Ramsgate and Walmer also put to sea along with the Ramsgate all weather lifeboat.

Everyone was pulled to safety o­nto  the all weather lifeboat, and returned to the shoreline where they were checked out by paramedics. One 35 year old man needed minor treatment at the scene.