Lymington RNLI called to reports of kite surfer in difficulty

The station’s B Class lifeboat, David Bradley, was launched following a report from a member of the public ashore who had spotted kite surfing equipment in the water near North Head Buoy.

A further update was received that the kite had been seen passing North Head and appeared to be moving towards the Isle of Wight shore. The lifeboat began a search approximately one and a half cables offshore, extending towards Barton-on-Sea, but no equipment or person was located.

At the request of the Coastguard, the lifeboat continued searching for the kite in an attempt to establish further information about the incident. The Isle of Wight shore was also searched from Colwell Bay towards The Needles, but nothing was found.

With no further information available and no person reported missing, the Coastguard assessed the situation and stood the lifeboat down. The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again.

Lifeboat helm Phil Baker said: “It’s always important to make sure that any water sports equipment is clearly labelled with the owner’s details. If equipment is found in the water, being able to identify who it belongs to can quickly establish whether someone may be missing and can prevent unnecessary searching.

“In this instance, the report was made with the very best intentions, and we would always rather launch and check than risk someone being in difficulty and not being located.”

Many of the volunteer crew were at work when the pager sounded, leaving their workplaces and heading to the lifeboat station to respond to the call.

The station is extremely fortunate to have so many supportive businesses and employers around Lymington who understand the importance of allowing their employees to respond when the call comes. Their support makes a huge difference and helps ensure the lifeboat can launch when it is needed.

Crew: Phil (helm), Simon, Jo and Dan.

RNLI Media Contacts

Suzanne Brown, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]

Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [email protected]

Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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