St Ives RNLI launched into challenging conditions for early morning search
At 3.22am on Wednesday 19 November, St Ives RNLI volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist in a search operation covering the area from Gurnard’s Head to Wolf Rock.
Weather conditions were particularly challenging, with a strong northerly wind producing maximum gusts of 50 knots, significant wave action and poor visibility across the search area.
The station’s all-weather lifeboat Nora Stachura was launched immediately with seven volunteer crew onboard, making good speed to the large search area. On arrival at the scene, the casualty was located by the Police and the lifeboat was stood down.
Due to the difficult weather conditions, Second Coxswain Robin Langford made the decision that it was not possible to safely return the lifeboat to its mooring. The volunteer crew remained onboard in the rough seas until the tide had gone out and conditions allowed a safe recovery to the boathouse.
Robin said, 'Conditions were extremely challenging, with strong winds, poor visibility and heavy seas. Our priority was to ensure the safety of the crew and the lifeboat, so we waited until it was safe to recover her back to the boathouse.'
By approximately 7.45am, the lifeboat had been recovered to shore, washed down, refuelled and made ready for service once again.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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