First shout of 2024 a party stopper for Calshot RNLI rescuers

THE first callout of 2024 proved a party-stopper for Calshot RNLI rescuers.

Crews were enjoying their annual belated Christmas knees-up at Vibrant Forest Brewery in Hardley on 20th January when the alert came in around 8.40pm for the designated duty crew.

The call coincidentally came in as launch authority Jim Bryant’s band, Barefoot Soul, performed Eagle Eye Cherry hit, Save Tonight.

Atlantic 85 B Class Lifeboat Max Walls launched in response to reports of a casualty in the water along the River Itchen at Southampton.

On arrival the crew, which included a paramedic and an emergency care assistant, treated the casualty before passing them to the waiting South Central Ambulance Service team.

Having returned to the station and made the boat ready for its next call, the crew was back in time to give lifts home to fellow revellers.

Mr Bryant said afterwards: “It was perhaps apt that we were playing Save Tonight when the crew left, however we had a moment of panic as it’s never a good sign when performing when a number of the audience walk out partway through your set!”

The shout was not only the first of the year, but also the first for new crew members James Silsbury and James ‘JJ’ Johnston.

Volunteer trainee helm Daniel Reeve added: “Whilst it was a shame to miss an event that had been so many months in organising, as a crew we are committed to saving lives at sea and when the call came we were focused on answering it.”