Lytham and St Anne’s RNLI launched their All-Weather Lifeboat Barbara Anne (featured photograph) and mounted a three-hour search on Saturday morning (20th January) after a 44-year-old, from North Wales, fell from the Stena Estrid (pictured below), which was travelling from Belfast to Birkenhead. The alarm was raised at about 8.15 a.m. and rescue lifeboat crews from Northern England and Wales joined Lytham and St Anne’s colleagues in the search.
At about 11.20 a.m. the casualty was airlifted by a HM Coastguard helicopter and taken by ambulance to hospital. Sadly, the man died shortly afterwards.
A spokesperson for Lytham St Anne’s RNLI said: ‘On the morning of Saturday, January 20 our All-Weather Lifeboat Barbara Anne, was called out to join in the search for a man-overboard from a ferry near Liverpool. We joined RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station, RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat and RNLI Rhyl in the search. Our thoughts are with the casualty’s friends and family at this sad time.’
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: ‘HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a report of a missing man from a passenger vessel off Liverpool. The alarm was raised at about 8.15am on 20 January and a search was carried out. The HM Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon was sent as well as RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Hoylake, Rhyl, Lytham St Anne’s and Llandudno. A man was airlifted from the water by the HM Coastguard helicopter at about 11.20 am, transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.
Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team assisted by securing a helicopter landing site. Merseyside Police were informed.’
Police said the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner. His next of kin have been informed.
