The Exmouth all weather lifeboat Margaret Jean was launched at 5.30am on Saturday 19 May to continue the search for missing Weymouth fishing vessel Purbeck Isle. On Sunday 20 May the inshore lifeboat was tasked to rescue members of the public stuck in the estuary mud.

After more than 26 hours of intensive searching by Weymouth RNLI, the five-man volunteer crew from Exmouth continued the search for the Purbeck Isle and two missing fishermen in Lyme Bay. The Margaret Jean returned seven hours later with no further sightings.

The inshore lifeboat George Bearman was tasked by Portland coastguards at 5.03pm on Sunday 20 May. Three adults, including a heavily pregnant woman and a dog were stuck in the mud by the rising tide in the Exe estuary. The couple from north Wales and their friend were walking the West Highland Terrier at the time.

The three-man crew reached the group and took them to waiting friends and paramedics by the Imperial recreation ground. The pregnant woman had been experiencing mild abdominal and leg pains caused by walking in soft wet sand in shallow water. Exmouth Lifeboat Operations Manager, Kevin Riley advises:

‘Please read the tide tables and take advice before walking on mud flats and sand bars. Remember to check the incoming tide times published agree with British Summer Time. Also, watch the lie of the land – water always takes the quickest and easiest way in and out of the sea.’