Three youngsters rescued by Scarborough RNLI
Three youngsters in kayaks had to be rescued by Scarborough RNLI when they drifted nearly a mile offshore.
Fortunately, a team of RNLI lifeguards was training on the north beach and realised that a strong offshore wind had blown the youngsters out to sea.
Two aged 14 and one aged 11, the children were wearing wetsuits and life-jackets but hadn’t counted on the wind strength.
Three lifeguards on paddleboards swam out to them, while colleagues called the coastguard, who in turn requested the lifeboat.
The lifeboat launched at about 12 noon today (6 April) and delivered the children and their kayaks back to their parents on the beach.
The lifeboat then returned to the scene to transport the lifeguards back to shore.
“The wind had got them and they were nearly a mile out by the time we got there,” said helmsman Craig Burnett.
“Just because the sea is flat and the sun is in the sky it doesn’t mean the sea is safe, especially when there’s a strong offshore wind.”
Craig’s crewmates aboard the lifeboat were Matt Rawlings and Rob Gaunt.
Photo caption: Scarborough’s inshore lifeboat on exercise in similar conditions to today’s rescue.
RNLI media contact
For further details, ring Scarborough RNLI press officer Dave Barry on 07890 322992.
Notes to editors
Scarborough RNLI’s all-weather Mersey class lifeboat Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs is nearing the end of its operational life. It is set to be replaced by the newest member of the RNLI fleet, a Shannon class lifeboat.
Scarborough RNLI’s £2m Shannon lifeboat has been funded by donations from the FW Plaxton Charitable Trust.
The trust was set up following the death of Frederic ‘Eric’ Plaxton to ensure that the proceeds of his estate be applied to charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of Scarborough in memory of his father.
Frederick William Plaxton was the founder of Scarborough-based coach building firm Plaxton Ltd, and the new lifeboat will be named in his memory.
The Shannon lifeboat
• The Shannon lifeboat is the first modern RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be powered by water jets and not propellers.
• Capable of 25 knots, the Shannon is 50% faster than the lifeboats it replaces – ensuring that those in need are reached even faster.
Launch and recovery
• The Shannon needs a bespoke launch and recovery system. It is designed to be mostly launched and recovered from a beach, but can’t do it without the right launching equipment.
The RNLI worked with Supacat Ltd developing a system capable of launching and recovering the Shannon lifeboat from the beach at all states of tide.
• The total cost of the Supacat launch and recovery system is £1.5m. Scarborough RNLI’s Supacat will be part-funded by two legacies. An appeal raised the remaining £200,000. Any monies raised above the appeal target will be used for the general running cost of the lifeboat station.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.