RNLI Dart to the rescue

Since the start of the summer our official charity partner for 2016, RNLI Dart has been busy promoting their ‘Respect the Water’ campaign and the importance of staying safe on the water was highlighted by some of their latest rescues.

In May RNLI Dart quickly went to the aide of an experienced kayaker who capsized on the Lower Gurrow Point of the river at Dittisham after experiencing difficulty within the water. After managing to steer his boat 500m to the nearest shore, he was unable to climb up the bank onto the field due to heavy vegetation blocking his way.

The kayaker rang the coastguard who immediately deployed the RNLI Dart Inshore lifeboat. Locating the stranded male from the strobe light of his kayak, the experienced paramedic crew treated him on-board for hypothermia before taking him quickly back to safety.

One of the charity’s more unusual rescues earlier this year saw the retrieval of 11-year-old golden retriever, Harlem, from the River Dart. Having jumped into the river 200m upstream of the Dittisham Sailing Club boat park, Harlem had become stuck in the mud and was rapidly tiring.

The RNLI station sprang into action, taking their inshore lifeboat to the scene to provide safety cover for the fire service. Two members of the RNLI Dart, along with two fire service crew, a coastguard, and a member of the Dittisham Sailing Club, Mike Bennett, managed to save the ageing retriever and safety return him to his anxious owner.

To find out more about the RNLI Dart and the services they provide, visit http://www.dartlifeboat.org.uk