Inshore lifeboat George Bearman launched at 4.14pm on 17 July to assist a jet-ski shuttle with six people aboard, reported to be in danger of sinking, off Orcombe Point.
South Devon RNLI lifeguards had responded to the call for help by alerting Solent Coastguard, who in turn authorised the lifeboat launch. When crew volunteers arrived on scene, they discovered the vessel on the beach. Crew volunteer, David Preece went ashore and describes the scene:
‘When we arrived, we found a five metre hull ashore on the beach, sunk by the breaking land wash. The hull was a shuttle craft that a sit-on jet-ski fits into, creating a jet motor boat.’
Shore crew volunteers used the Tooltrak inshore lifeboat tractor to pull the vessel out of the surf line and used the salvage pump to clear the water. Once clear, the inshore lifeboat crew volunteers took the craft under tow to Belchers Slipway for a safe recovery.
