RNLI lifeboats launched to helicopter crash + Video

by Alison Levett on 26 Sep 2014

Bridlington RNLI crew member at the scene of the crash The picture also shows RAF Leconfield search and rescue helicopter. RNLI / Bridlington

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteer crews from Flamborough and Bridlington launched the afternoon of Tuesday, 16 September, after a helicopter crashed close to Flamborough Head.

Flamborough RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat launched at 1.45pm, followed soon after by Bridlington RNLI all-weather lifeboat. The volunteer crews spent some time searching an area in Selwicks Bay and later stood by at sea to support coastguard, fire and rescue and other emergency service colleagues in the rescue operation.

Flamborough RNLI crew member Cole Ibbotson said: 'We could see the wreckage of the helicopter at the bottom of the cliff and could see where it had hit. The swell was too big for the lifeboat to get in close so we were tasked to undertake a search pattern for wreckage with Bridlington all-weather lifeboat. We recovered a number of items which we have passed on to the police.

'We are all devastated that this service didn't have a positive outcome and that we couldn't help the people on board the helicopter. Our thoughts and sympathy are very much with their family and friends tonight.'

The two RNLI lifeboats crews were stood down at 5.45pm.

Flamborough Head is a promontory, eight miles long on the Yorkshire coast of England, between the Filey and Bridlington bays of the North RNLI website
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