Duddon Inshore Rescue

Duddon Inshore Rescue provided safety cover for those members of Askam Rugby League Club brave enough to enter the chilly water on New Years Day 2019.

They said: “Askam Rugby League club are celebrating their 140th year this year. This makes us one of the oldest clubs in the league and in this area. Celebrations started with a splash on a most beautiful sunny, but cold day. Most of the team took part with a sponsored dip and swim in the Duddon Estuary. There was also a good turnout of spectators on the pier. A big thank you goes to Duddon Inshore Rescue who were in attendance but fortunately not required.”

As we welcome in the New Year we want to say a massive thank you to all our supporters for their help and support in 2018 and wish everyone all the best for 2019.

Duddon Inshore Rescue were delighted to receive funding from Orsted through their Walney Extension Community Fund to buy this New Holland TD5.85 tractor.  This New Holland machine was chosen as the most suitable to update and upgrade our 10-year-old tractor as we had seen similar models at other RNLI stations.  

Further investigation with local dealer Lloyd Ltd’s Sales Specialist George Lowis proved that the New Holland would be the ideal machine, not least because it offered the perfect combination of power at 95 hp and simplicity, with as few electrics as possible to minimise the risk of sea water damage. 

The addition of their emergency blue flashing lights to make them more visible and the galvanised wheels and steps to reduce corrosion have added to its usefulness, while the cab gives comfort and safety in what can be truly treacherous conditions.

Duddon Inshore Rescue would like to extend their thanks firstly to the Walney Extension Fund for providing funding to enable us to buy this superb piece of kit but also to Lloyds for their help in customising it to our requirements and for a smooth and seamless handover of the new tractor. 

At Duddon Inshore Rescue we like to keep our training skills up-to-date so we made the most of a break in the rain to practice capsize training in Blacks Pond.

Crew not only had to capsize the boat, go under it then right it again and finally get back in it. 

A big thank you to all who attended our annual open day and helped us raise nearly £400.

Skills Shop attended to run some great first aid sessions so visitors could learn a little more about basic first aid and it was great to see the community police team in attendance.

Our raffle proved very successful with the main draw being a car Mot and car air con recharge that were kindly donated as prizes by Furness Cars & Commercials.

Thanks again to everyone and we hope to see you again next year.

Duddon Inshore Rescue held its first ever Fundraising Fashion Show in June. We had a great turn out with 79 ladies coming to see the latest ladies fashions.

We raised £625.00 from ticket sales, the raffle and donations so wanted to extend our thanks to everyone who attended, Askam Rugby Club for the venue and support they gave, Askam Post Office and Salon 44 who sold tickets and Eileen who helped organise the show and raffle prizes.

Of course, we have to give our 3 members of crew Johnny, Neil and Danny an extra big thank you for swapping inshore life with modelling, and showcasing some of our kit.

A fantastic night and thanks to all involved….

Duddon Inshore Rescue was kindly invited to attend the ESP Cumbria International Car Show on Sunday 20th May. A great day was had by all crew who attended and lots of information was given to the public attending to raise awareness of the dangers of the sea and surrounding sands.

Following the Car Show, Dave Robinson (from ESPCC) gave Duddon Inshore Rescue a £150 donation from the gate donations at the ESP International Motor Show. 

Many thanks to Dave and his support team for their support and we hope to see them again next year.

A big thank you to all who braved the wet weather on Saturday and came to the official opening of our training room and open day.  The following are just a few photos from the day…

Chris, Andrew & Daniel McNamee cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Bernard McNamee​, MBE Training Suite.

The handover of new risk assessments from Accounting 4 Safety Ltd .

A training defibrillator and resuscitation dummies were provided by IJJA Training Solutions so visitors could learn how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator.

Enjoying a cup of tea and delicious homemade cakes.

The crew taking time out for a quick photo opportunity….

You may have seen in the local press or heard on the radio that Duddon Inshore Rescue is having an open day and the official opening of our training room on Saturday 21st October 2017.

The Boathouse doors open to the public at 11am with the official opening of the training room at 11:15am. Crew will also be presented with our new risk assessments completed by Accounting for Safety Ltd.

During the day there will be the opportunity to see all our equipment, try out resuscitation and using a defibrillator thanks to IJJA Training Solutions and learn more about Duddon Inshore Rescue. Refreshments will be available all day.

Learn more about the open day here at the Huddlehub website:

September has proved to be another busy month for Duddon Inshore Rescue.

The month started with 2 call outs:

01.09.17 -  crew called out by Holyhead CG at 18:50, to a vehicle stuck in the sand at Roanhead car park. Once on scene with Tractor, Quad and Mobile the two lady occupants were very happy to see help arrive as one was heavily pregnant, they thought a drive on the bumpy beach might start
things to happen on the arrival of the unborn. All ok and they went on their way once their car was pulled clear of the beach.

03.09.17 -  crew called out to reports of a person trying to cross the Estuary from Foxfield to the Green on the Millom side of the Estuary. After an extensive search by crews from DIR, Furness CG, Millom CG & Haverigg Rescue, the person was found at Dunnerholme Rock. Great team work by all agency’s involved.

Crew then provided another few hours of assistance to the pipeline survey before attending the Police Open Day on 10.09.17.

Despite the wet weather there was good attendance from the public and a good opportunity for us to catch up with other agencies including Fire and Ambulance services plus the Coastguard, Ulverston Inshore Rescue and Bay Search and Rescue.

August has been a busy month for the crew at Duddon Inshore Rescue providing safety assistance during low tides to the pipeline survey.

Safety cover is vital while the survey is completed because, as shown clearly on the photo below the gulleys in the estuary between Millom and Askam are the depth of a grown adult showing how dangerous they can be if the tide turns and they start to fill.

A good effort by all crew involved so thank you for their hard work and efforts.