Thames Coastguard requested the lifeboat, which had just returned from a training exercise,  to proceed to Leysdown, following a report of an inflatable ring, with one person believed to be with it, being blown out to sea.

On arrival the ring, with no one on board, was found quarter of a mile offshore, and brought aboard the lifeboat. Meanwhile, Sheppey Coastguard had been able to ascertain from people on shore that no persons were involved, and the ring had been unoccupied when it blew out to sea.

Before returning to station, the lifeboat crew gave safety advice to the occupants of another inflatable, which was in danger of drifting seawards in the offshore breeze.