Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
10th March 2008
Flooding at West Sands Caravan Park
At 1345 Solent Coastguard asked for assistance to evacuate people trapped in their caravans at West Sands Caravan Park. The sea defences at Medmerry Beach and from the Embassy Club to the west had been totally breached due to the storm force winds and a high Spring tide.
It was decided that the best option for evacuating the trapped residents was to use the inflatable X class boat carried on the all weather lifeboat. The boat and a crew of four dressed in dry suits were dispatched by road to the coordination point at Medmerry Windmill. Also in attendance were Fire and Rescue teams, local coastguard units and the coastguard helicopter.
Coordinated by local coastguards the X boat and crew were directed to various caravans, which resulted in them evacuating 5 women, 3 men including one disabled and two children. A thorough search of all the caravans in the flooded area was carried out by the lifeboat crew, fire personnel and coastguards until it was established everyone at risk had been evacuated. At 1830 the crew and boat were released to return to the station.
CREW: R.Archibald, P.Delahunty, W.Moir, G.Pearce.
WIND: South- southwest 10. SEA: Inland / smooth. WEATHER: Rain.
(The flooding of West Sands Caravan Site and the attendance of Selsey's Lifeboats on the 10th March raised a great deal of media interest. Enquiries were received from all the local papers and the BBC News and ITV News. On the day photos of the crew in action were used in the news bulletins on both channels. A request came from the BBC South Today programme on the 11th March to interview members of the Lifeboat team involved. Interviews with Tony and Peter Delahunty were organised and they were interviewed by Bryony Leyland. The interviews were shown on the Lunch Time bulletin and in the evening South Today programme.)
 |
 |