31st March 2000, Dover lifeboat launched at 1846hrs following reports that a person might have fallen from Shakespeare Cliff. The lifeboat arrived on scene in under five minutes and six crew members were transferred to the shore using the Y boat.

Whilst the lifeboat launched white parachute flares for illumination, the crew members ashore searched the rocks. During this search the lifeboatmen found a severely injured man. Close to where this man lay they also discovered some badly decomposed human remains. Led by Craig Burn, the lifeboatmen on the shore administered first aid and comforted the injured man. The casualty was then airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to hospital in Margate.

Once the injured man was en route to hospital, the lifeboat crew dealt with the body and transferred it to the lifeboat. The lifeboat then returned to the Station where it was met by representatives of the Coroner.

Following this service crew members Craig Burn and Mark Finnis received letters of appreciation from the RNLI's Medical and Survival Committee. The whole crew were thanked in a letter sent by Operations Director Michael Vlasto for a job well done in thoroughly unpleasant circumstances.