A charity which is due to receive a rescue boat thanks to the fundraising of a Rutland couple have praised their hard work and that of other fundraisers.

The York Rescue Boat this week ordered a new boat to help them rescue people on the Ouse and Fosse rivers in and around York, as reported by Nub News this week.

The move followed the sad death of the 19-year-old son Sonny Ferry whose body was found by the York Rescue boat by one of the city bridges in April 2019.

His parents Kate and Steve Ferry launched the Sunshine Campaign to help fundraise for another boat for the charity.

To date, £34,000 has been raised and the Ferry family want to reach their full fundraising target of £45,000. But with the money already raised, and an offer of assistance from Acaster Marine in York and Highfield UK, the charity has now been able to order a new lifeboat.

Any extra funds raised will go towards the additional equipment required to get the boat fully kitted out and ready for service in York. The boat is due for delivery by the end of the year and will go operational once volunteers have undergone the necessary conversion training.

Dave Horn, Senior Operations Manager of York River Boat said: "At the start of 2019 we had drawn up some initial designs and costings for a new boat but getting the required funding to purchase one seemed to be just a pipe dream.

"To have Kate and Steve offer to raise that amount of money for us, so soon after the death of their son, was a large shock to the team.

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"However, after such a great start to their fundraising achievements and then the pandemic hitting in early 2020 and continuing into 2021 we had shelved all hope of getting our new boat ordered in the near future.

"The fantastic drive and determination shown by Kate, Steve, their family, friends and everyone else who have donated to this campaign have made this now possible.

"Therefore in memory of the death of Sonny the new boat is going to be named 'Spirit of Sonny'. "

The new lifeboat is being built by Highfield and is based on their Patrol 660 hull but with bespoke modifications to give the charity the working platform that it requires during patrols, searches and rescues.

The design will provide better seating for the crew, a working area capable of taking a basket stretcher, improved sonar, radio and electronics suite, greater towing capability and a more reliable and environmentally friendly engine.

York Rescue Boat's current vessel is nearly 15 years old and is coming to the end of its operational life, although it will still be used by the charity as a crew training boat.

To support The Sunshine Campaign you can make a donation by clicking on the link here.