Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers launch to kayaker in difficulty

Lifeboat volunteers at Lyme Regis had an early start this morning when at 6:43am their pagers sounded calling them to the lifeboat station. They launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at 6:57am to assist a male kayaker who was reported to be unwell and in risk of losing consciousness off the coast between Charmouth and Golden Cap to the east of Lyme Regis.

In fine weather and mild sea conditions they were quickly on scene with the casualty and a second kayaker. Having transferred the casualty onto the lifeboat volunteer crew member Tom Crabbe made a medical assessment of the 45-year-old male kayaker. Tom said: ‘The two kayakers had set off from Charmouth very early this morning on a fishing trip. Once at sea the casualty began feeling quite unwell and very dizzy. By the time we got him onto the lifeboat he was feeling a bit better and did not require any medical treatment.’

After a few minutes the casualty had recovered enough to allow him to return to his kayak and paddle back to the beach at Charmouth under escort by the lifeboat crew. Once ashore he and his colleague were met by an HM Coastguard rescue team from Lyme Regis.

Volunteer lifeboat Helm Jon Broome said: ‘The two kayakers were very well prepared for their fishing trip. They were both wearing lifejackets and carried VHF radios and mobile phones to call for help. When one of them became ill his colleague did exactly the right thing by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard. If the casualty had deteriorated and ended up unconscious in the water, we would have been facing a much more serious situation.’

This was the 11th service call for the Lyme Regis RNLI volunteer crew in 2026, the year in which the lifesaving charity celebrates 200 years association with the town.

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Notes to editors

Photo1 Caption: Lyme Regis RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne searching the coast to the east of Lyme Regis. Photo credit: RNLI/Nick Marks.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected], or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.