During this service, the Terschelling lifeboat was once knocked down and was later also capsized bow over stern. Suffering only minor damage, it remained fully operational and was still able to continue service for several hours. Lifeboats like these are very expensive to build. The voluntary lifeboat services depend on your support to be able to put such lifeboats in the hands of their lifeboat crews. Despite the determination, courage and skill of the lifeboat men and women and despite modern technology, it always is nature which rules man in the end and not the other way round.
Nature can simply be stronger than man and technology.
The border between a successful mission and a disaster often is a slim edge. Lifeboats and lifeboat crews are not invincible. We all know that sometimes it happens, but when it happens, it is always tragic and sad.