Sunderland’s RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat was scrambled into action shortly after eight o’clock this morning [Thursday, February 05th] after a fisherman on the end of Roker Pier reported the sighting of a body drifting out to sea.

Coastguard Officers based at Humber Coastguard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre contacted the Sunderland RNLI Operations Manager to request the immediate launch of their Atlantic 85 lifeboat, ‘Wolseley’. A separate request was also made to Sunderland MCA Coastguard Team to attend the incident.

Paul Nicholson, Senior Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said “On arrival at the scene the two fisherman directed us the body which was located approximately two hundred metres out to sea. After receiving clearance from Northumbria Police, we were asked to recover the body onto the lifeboat.”

The lifeboat then returned to the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Sunderland Marina where the body was handed over to Police and Paramedics to allow the formal investigation to take place.

Paul Nicholson added “It is unclear at this point in time how the casualty ended up to be in the water or for how long they had been in. For any further information about the incident please contact Northumbria Police.

Related Links:
www.rnli.org.uk

Image:  Sunderland RNLI during our RNLI bear 'George's' visit in 2007.