Missing lifeboat washes up on Devon beach

21 December 2025

Zhara SimpsonDevon

News image — A lifeboat that washed off a cargo ship has come ashore on a Devon beach

John Buttle A small orange lifeboat on a pebble beach in Devon. It is orange, has writing on the front and back. There are three yellow crosses across the top of it, and two small windows at the top. The sea is behind it and is cloudy. — A lifeboat that washed off a cargo ship has come ashore on a Devon beach

A lifeboat that washed off a cargo ship has come ashore on a Devon beach.

HM Coastguard said teams were first alerted to the container ship lifeboat at Sidmouth Beach at about 07:30 GMT on Sunday.

It said the lifeboat had previously been reported as missing from a known cargo ship on Wednesday and teams had been tracking it since but were unaware of where it was going to wash up.

Beer Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to help secure the lifeboat and safely dispose of its flares until it was recovered.

Stephen Waller A orange lifeboat being towed by a blue tractor on a pebble beach. There are coastguards between the lifeboat and tractor. The sky is cloudy and the sea in the distance. — The lifeboat has been recovered and secured above the tide line

A team from the Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, which was also called out, said with the evening tide posing "real risk" of the vessel being broken up over night, a decision was made to recover it and secure it above the tide line.

It said the crew used its winch tractor to move the vessel to a safe and accessible location at the Clifton slipway.

"A big thank you to everyone involved for the swift cooperation and teamwork," added Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat.

Devon and Cornwall Police, the Receiver of Wreck and the Environment Agency have also been made aware, HM Coastguard said.