Rescue operation sees Wightlink ferry send lifeboat to save group on inflatable boat

The rescue operation saw Wightlink ferry Victoria of Wight launch a lifeboat to save the adult and four children onboard the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) at 7.20 last night.

The ferry service reported that the RIB had become tangled in lobster pots and was drifting away from the shoreline near Ryde Pier.

The adult and children were found uninjured and taken to the care of the Coastguard at Ryde Pier Head.

HM Coastguard sent a lifeboat from the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team to assist with the rescue.

A spokeswoman from HM Coastguard said: ‘Here in the busy Solent, we are always impressed by the professionalism and speed of response we receive from our local commercial vessels and seafarers when there is an emergency at sea, despite their commercial pressures of maintaining service and sailing schedules.’

The crew of Victoria of Wight picked up the RIB’s distress signal via radio and quickly dispatched a lifeboat, according to Keith Greenfield, chief executive of Wightlink.

He said: ‘I am very relieved that all the passengers on the distressed RIB have been recovered uninjured and I’d like to give thanks to Captain Sam Mitchell and the crew of Victoria of Wight for their professionalism and quick reactions.

‘The safety of lives is always Wightlink’s top priority and our crews are well trained to deal with emergency situations like this.’

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