At 6:15 pm yesterday, 1 May, the UK Coastguard instructed the Hoylake RNLI hovercraft, the ‘Hurley Spirit’, to launch in response to a report of a vehicle stranded in the sand at Leasowe Bay, with the tide rapidly approaching.
Upon arrival, the hovercraft and its volunteer crew were stood down as the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team was already on site and had confirmed that all individuals had made it safely back to shore.
After the mission, the hovercraft returned to the station for a wash down before an exercise scheduled for 6 pm that evening.
Hoylake RNLI hovercraft commander Matt Pownall-Jones said, “RNLI crews and the Coastguard are regularly called out to people in difficulty on this stretch of coast due to the flooding tides quickly cutting people off.
“We would advise anyone thinking of heading out across the beach to always check the tide times, weather and local safety signage. Always carry a means of calling for help and in an emergency at the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
Image: RNLI/David Edwards
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