Our last shout of 2021; with just four hours of the year remaining, at 1955 Caister Lifeboat was paged to launch. HM Coastguard had received reports of a red distress flare in the Scroby Sands Wind Farm or Scratby area.

With Aaron Thurlow at the wheel and with coxswain Guy Gibson, second coxswain Tommy Williams, Greg Carter, Laurence Billington, Jamie Smith and Rob Bush on board, the Bernard Matthews II was in the water within seven minutes.

Despite an extensive search, using our new high-powered search lamps, nothing was found. With Zane Billington on the tractor, Paul Garrod, Richard Thurlow, Alex Low and Colin Willavize on the beach, the boat was back ashore by 2115. Have a safe celebration tonight; and be careful fireworks don’t get mistaken for distress flares!

Happy New Year everyone!!