Show of support for lifeboat crew

Sunday 09 April 2017

Former St Helier lifeboat crew members have organised a silent gathering at the station later this morning to show their support for the current crew.

All 25 crew, along with five management and administration staff, quit their posts on Friday, over the way the national RNLI had treated their coxswain.

Andy Hibbs was ‘sacked’ for allegedly breaking RNLI rules – something he strongly denies. Current crew say they were so disgusted they had no choice but to hand in their notice. He’s been a member of the crew for almost 25 years, and has been coxswain for the last 14.

Protest organisor Paul Battrick says they’re holding a silent gathering at 10:00 to show the national RNLI how highly respected Andy Hibbs and his crew are, and to hopefully prompt the national RNLI to “see sense”.

The mass resignation means the two boats run by the St Helier station are currently offline. The RNLI says St Catherine’s lifeboat, and crews from the other islands are on hand to cover any emergencies.