THREE teenagers drifting out to sea in a wooden dingy were rescued by Hartlepool's lifeboat crew today. TUESAPRIL7
The pleasure craft had lost power in the sea off Middleton Beach, Hartlepool and was about 800 metres from the shore and drifting farther out when the alarm was raised and Humber Coastguard paged the lifeboat crew at 2.46pm.
It was the third day in a row Hartlepool RNLI had been called out but the crew members had launched the Atlantic 85 Solihull lifeboat within 14 minutes.
The volunteers threw the stricken dinghy a line and pulled the dinghy alongside the lifeboat. The three teenagers were taken onto the lifeboat and were checked over. The Inshore lifeboat then towed the dinghy alongside the lifeboat towards the beach. When the lifeboat got close enough to the shore RNLI volunteer Gavin Heaton, jumped into the water and pulled the dinghy up onto the beach. The teenagers then pulled their dinghy onto the safety of Middleton beach.
Hartlepool RNLI crew member Mark Barker, said: "We strongly advise anyone going to sea to have their boat and equipment maintained on a regular basis to avoid putting lives at risk. This was a routine exercise for our volunteer crew members as we train weekly to be able to help save lives at sea."
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