Speedboats capsize MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF MARGATE'S 16ft D class inflatable lifeboat were in the boathouse on the afternoon of Sunday August 3, 1986, cleaning the lifeboatafter an earlier service call when a message came through that two speedboats had capsized off Westgate and a number of people were in the water.

A strong easterly breeze, force 6, was blowing and the sky was cloudy with rain. High tide had passed and the ebb was now giving wind over tide locally.

The D class lifeboat launched at 1555 manned by Helmsman Trevor Lamb and Crew Member Steven McNeil.

Heavy seas were breaking on the slipway but the lifeboat pulled away safely, steered clear of the old pier and then turn west towards Westgate Point, just under two miles away, where the speedboats had been sighted.

At about the same time Thanet Council's beach inspector who had heard of the incident, launched the beach safety boat, a 12ft rigid inflatable, with a crew of two, Daren Micton and Richard Gradus, aboard. Both boats converged on the reported position, both at reduced speed in the three to four foot waves.

At 1600 the lifeboat crew sighted four people in the water about 150 yards offshore. Two more people could be seen nearer the beach. By now a coastguard mobile Land Rover was on the scene and was giving radio assistance from the shore. Helmsman Trevor Lamb took command of the incident and directed the council boat towards the two people nearer the shore. One of them, a well-intentioned rescuer, was able to wade back to the beach unaided.

The other was taken aboard the safety boat which then headed back out to sea.

Meanwhile the lifeboat attended to the other four in the water. They all wore wetsuits which aided buoyancy and asked the helmsman first to take care of another man, a non swimmer, some 50 yards to the west. On reaching him, the lifeboat crew found that he was barely conscious and lashed to a polystyrene float (which had possibly been used as a makeshift water ski). He capsized around the float and had to be cut free before being hauled aboard the lifeboat.

Using limb manipulation and continued talking Crew Member Steven McNeil revived the man but immediately he flew into a state of total panic, crying and shouting, and had to be restrained.

The council boat had by now reached the other four men but after taking one of them aboard, a large wave filled herwith water and she was forced to return immediately to the beach at St Mildred's Bay where her two survivors were landed safely.

When the lifeboat reached the remaining three men they had drifted slightly eastward and were clinging to an orange fishing marker. The net attached became fouled in the lifeboat's propeller and while McNeil helped the men aboard, the helmsman lifted the engine to clear it.

The lifeboat then made for St Mildred's Bay beach and the four survivors were landed. They refused ambulance aid and the non-swimmer ran off into the crowd even before coastguards could interview and identify him.

At 1625 the lifeboat was re-launched with the help of the council boat crew and returned to station five minutes later. Before he left for the station the helmsman was subjected to some abuse from the survivors because he would not launch to retrieve their speedboats.

These were later washed ashore.

Following this service letters of appreciation, signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, were sent to Helmsman Trevor Lamb and Crew Member Steven McNeil. Similar letters were also sent to the Thanet Council boat's crew, Daren Micton and Richard Gradus..