Displaying items by tag: Sunderland

7th August 2023

Scores Fall Ill After Triathlon Swims in North-East England

Nearly 60 people fell ill after taking part in the swimming portion of events at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland at the weekend.

As the Guardian reports, at least 57 triathletes out of some 2,000 who took part in the open sea swimming portion off Roker Beach in the north-east of England came down with symptoms that ran from upset stomachs to diarrhoea.

While organisers British Triathlon say its water quality testing results passed acceptable standards, an Environment Agency sampling from nearby waters three days before the event reportedly showed highly elevated level of E. coli.

The Roker Beach area on the North Sea coast has been at the centre of a lengthy dispute between campaigners and the UK government over sewage discharges, though the local water supplier denies there was any incident that would have affected water quality over the weekend.

No such illnesses were reported after the 93rd Dun Laoghaire Harbour Race, which took place on Sunday (6 August). Clodagh Sweeney of Sandycove was first among the women, while Colm Leonard of the Phoenix Swimming Club won the men’s race. Full results can be found HERE.

Published in Sea Swim

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RNLI Volunteer Among Cork Plane Crash Dead

A former volunteer with Sunderland RNLI was among the five people who died in the plane crash tragedy at Cork Airport last week, according to BBC News.

Twenty-seven-year-old Andrew Cantle was co-pilot of the ill-fated Manx2 flight which came down in thick fog on Thursday morning.

He had previously spent eight years as a volunteer with RNLI Sunderland in north-east England, joining in 2000. Thereater he moved to York, where be began his career as a commercial pilot. He had only been with Manx2 for a few months before the incident.

The RNLI said Cantle had volunteers on 65 emergency missions and helped save the lives of 66 people.

Sunderland RNLI senior helmsman Paul Nicholson said: "Everyone involved with the lifeboat station is in total shock about the tragic loss of a very close and dear friend."

BBC News has more on the story HERE.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-12429693

A former volunteer with Sunderland RNLI was among the five people who died in the plane crash tragedy at Cork Airport last week, according to BBC News.

Twenty-seven-year-old Andrew Cantle was co-pilot of the ill-fated Manx2 flight which came down in thick fog on Thursday morning.

He had previously spent eight years as a volunteer with RNLI Sunderland in north-east England, joining in 2000. Thereafter he moved to York, where be began his career as a commercial pilot. He had only been with Manx2 for a few months before the incident.

The RNLI said Cantle had volunteers on 65 emergency missions and helped save the lives of 66 people.
Sunderland RNLI senior helmsman Paul Nicholson said: "Everyone involved with the lifeboat station is in total shock about the tragic loss of a very close and dear friend."

BBC News has more on the story HERE.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset