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THE Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) faced condemnation last night after confirming that a lifeboat station is to close.
As revealed in The Northern Echo yesterday, the service is to axe the all-weather lifeboat at Teesmouth following a review of emergency cover in the Tees Bay area. The 24 volunteers who make up the crew will continue to man the lifeboat until the end of the month when the boat will be taken to Amble, Northumberland, as relief cover. The decision was announced on the day police named a 13-year-old boy who was swept to his death further along the coast. Mark Langton, of Canon Cockin Street, Hendon, Sunderland, was washed out to sea on Monday afternoon. Rescuers said he went into the water at Hendon Beach to cool off, but was caught by a wave and dragged 200 yards into deeper water, where he was battered against rocks. It emerged last night that lifebelts had not been replaced after vandals and thieves targeted them. Sunderland City Council said it had been forced to give up nine years ago because of persistent vandalism. Last night, friends paid tribute to Mark. Andy Elliott, 15, who lives nearby, said: "We have been playing on Hendon promenade for years. I don't think anyone realised how dangerous is was. The whole community is in shock." Mark's family was too upset to speak, but Elizabeth Bowman, headteacher at his school, said: "He will be sadly missed by both teachers and pupils at the school and all our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family at this very sad time." Campaigners said the tragedy highlighted the need to maintain top quality coverage along the coastline. Neil Marson, Teesmouth operations manager, said: "I believe the decision to close the station will only have an impact when there is a fatality and by then, it will be too late." The news that the lifeboat station was to close was broken by the RNLI's operations committee chairman, Rear Admiral John Tolhurst. He said yesterday: "I am confident we are not putting lives at risk by withdrawing this lifeboat because we have the capacity from nearby stations to cover the area." Operations director Michael Vlasto added: "A decision of this magnitude can only be justified if we are certain of the facts and if past, present and predicted future lifeboat activity in the Tees Bay has been examined in minute detail. "We have done just that and also consulted extensively with the lifeboat stations in the area and other interested parties before reaching the conclusion that there is no further operational requirement for a lifeboat at Teesmouth." Following the closure, cover in the Tees Bay area will be provided by seven lifeboats, including the all-weather boat at Hartlepool and two inshore boats in Redcar.
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