Six call outs for Ryde Inshore Rescue over the last week. Michaela tells us more. Ed
The fair weather over the past seven days has seen the Ryde Rescue crews working to the extreme with the boats being called out six times throughout the week.
With a variety of incidents from two suspected boat fires to a family capsized from their canoe, the lifeboat crew spent over ten hours afloat dealing with the incidents, spending approximately £400 in fuel.
Steep increase in callouts
In the past, Easter weekend is traditionally our first busy week of the year, but due to the lateness of it this year and the weather encouraging people afloat we have seen a steep increase in the number of callouts attended over this period.
Even away from the water, the volunteers were busy yesterday (Sunday) when the off duty crew who were enjoying some time on the beach with their families, spent a lot of the day dealing with a steady stream of first aids, as members of the public approached the lifeboat station looking for assistance.
As part of the lifeboat team we can never really switch off from our duties, and even if we are not officially on duty if you see someone looking into the station for help we will always open the unit and help where we can.
Personal satisfaction is our payment
As volunteers doing the kind of work that we do the only form of payment that we get is the personal satisfaction that we have been able to help.
The crew of Ryde are still trying to reach their £6,000 target to replace their second lifeboat in time for the summer season. The target is now close with just over £500 remaining.
If anyone would like to help them hit this amount they can donate at Just Giving.
