A search for a missing boy, sightings of red distress flares and assisting with a medical incident ensured it was a 'busy day and night' for a voluntary lifeboat service.
Hemsby Lifeboat was called out three times in quick succession yesterday (Friday, August 25).
At 3.09pm the inshore lifeboat (ILB), along with Winterton Coastguard teams, RNLI Lifeguards and Norfolk Police, were involved in a search for a missing five-year-old child from Hemsby Gap. A spokesman for Hemsby Lifeboat said: 'The child was later found two miles north and was returned to the Lifeboat station to be reunited with parents.'
The Hemsby Broads Lifeboat was called out at 4.49pm to reports of cries of help, heard by a passing holiday cruiser from the Wroxham Broads area. The lifeboat, along with the Broads Authority Boat and Fire and Rescue boat conducted a thorough search of every broad and river and visited every passing boat all the way to Horning. Coastguard rescue teams from Winterton, Happisburgh and Mundesley along with the East of England Ambulance Service also attended. A spokesman for Hemsby Lifeboat said: 'A sighting was reported at South Walsham Broad by coastguard teams and the Broads Lifeboat proceeded for a closer inspection. The casualty was located and given a medical inspection then taken to the opposite side of the Broad for Paramedics to give a thorough inspection. Casualty was later released and given the all clear.'
With the Broads Lifeboat returned to station and back on service at 9.28pm, the ILB was called out at 10.54pm along with Winterton Coastguard teams and Caister Lifeboat to reported sightings of red distress flares in the area of Winterton Gap.
A spokesman for Hemsby Lifeboat said: 'The lifeboat launched and proceeded north where another red distress flare was clearly seen by the lifeboat crew and confirmed by Winterton Coastguard teams who were conducting a land based search of the dunes. The lifeboat continued north to Waxham, while Caister lifeboat covered the south from Caister to Hemsby. Winterton Coastguard came upon a large garden party as it clearly had been let off from inland, but nothing was found. Other offshore shipping who had seen the flare conducted searches and nothing untoward was reported out at sea.'
The ILB was stood down and returned to station to be back on service at 1am. A spokesman for Hemsby Lifeboat said it was a 'busy day and night.'
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