Major Incident Declared as Southport Lifeboat Aids in Person Rescue from Formby Waters

Our Arctic 24 lifeboat, alongside our ATV quad bikes and rescue trailer, was tasked by Holyhead Coastguard to assist in a multi‑agency search for a person reported in the water off Formby Point.

The lifeboat Heather White launched promptly from Southport, while our quad team made their way along the beach towards Formby. Our drone team also deployed in the incident support vehicle to support the search from the air.

All assets arrived on scene and commenced coordinated sea and shoreline searches, working alongside multiple emergency service partners including Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat, and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from HM Coastguard Southport, HM Coastguard Crosby and Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team.

The incident was subsequently declared a major incident by Merseyside Police. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 336 and our D‑Class lifeboat Christopher Taylor were tasked to join the search.

As the D‑Class was launching, New Brighton’s lifeboat located the casualty in the water close to Hightown.

New Brighton Lifeboat, assisted by Southport Lifeboat crew, transported the casualty ashore, where our quad team was waiting on the beach. The casualty was transferred into the rescue trailer and given immediate medical care by our crew while being evacuated to Lifeboat Road car park.

At the car park, the casualty was handed over to waiting North West Ambulance crews and taken to hospital for further treatment.

We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

Our sincere thanks go to all agencies involved in this coordinated response, which resulted in a positive outcome.