Midnight callout for lifeboat crews at Arbroath cliffs

Members of an Angus volunteer lifeboat crew were in the middle of their Christmas party when they were paged to an incident over the weekend.

Both Arbroath lifeboats were launched late at night to attend an incident at the Deil’s Heid area of the town’s cliffs.

A request for lifeboat assistance was received from HM Coastguard at about midnight on Saturday, with the all-weather lifeboat RNLB Inchcape and inshore lifeboat Robert Fergusson being launched.

Alex Smith, lifeboat operations manager for Arbroath RNLI, reflected on the commitment required of lifeboat crews.

“For volunteer crews the length and breadth of the country, dropping everything to respond to a shout is something that comes as second nature,” he said.

“Some of the crew had been enjoying a Christmas meal when the request for assistance was received.

“Both lifeboats were launched to provide support in what was an ongoing incident but thankfully the matter was brought to a close without any casualties, which is always pleasing.”

The incident was medical in nature and both lifeboats returned to the station at around 2am.