Sea Palling Independent Lifeboat suspended after complaints

Volunteers at Sea Palling Independent Lifeboat have been told by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) that their Beach Road station is off service until further notice on the back of anonymous complaints filed to the MCA about the lifeboat station.

Mark Skerrett, chairman of the independent lifeboat, said the crew were told by the MCA on Friday (June 9) that services at the station had been indefinitely suspended, but they were not informed of the complaints made until Monday (June 12).

Sea Palling Independent Lifeboat (Image: Supplied)

READ MORE: Father and daughter rescued from rip current at Sea Palling

He said the nature of the complaints have still not been communicated with them, leaving the crew feeling “left in the dark” about why the station is no longer operational.

Mr Skerrett said: “We are frustrated by the situation we have been put in to by the MCA.

“We are working to resolve it as soon as we can, but feel it is out of our hands.

“We’ve been given full backing by NILA and our neighbouring independent stations at Hemsby, Caistor and Mundesley.”

Mr Skerrett said the independent lifeboat, which was last audited in 2017 when it was awarded its MCA status, has offered to continue its support of the local coastguard despite the suspension of its services.

It comes as a father and daughter had to be rescued by RNLI coastguards at Sea Palling Beach on Sunday (June 11) after being pulled out to sea by a dangerous rip current.

Sea Palling Independent Lifeboat (Image: Supplied)

READ MORE: Cromer lifeboat launched to rescue 43ft yacht in distress

An MCA spokesperson said: “A number of complaints have been received by HM Coastguard about the Sea Palling Independent Lifeboat station.

"A decision was made to stand down the service while those complaints are looked into but it neither implies or imputes wrongdoing.

"While we look into these complaints, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”