Newquay RNLI lifeboat volunteers rescue pair trapped by tide
Newquay's RNLI lifeboat volunteers were alerted just after 4pm on Sunday (24 April) and launched both inshore lifeboats to assist two people trapped by the tide at Bedruthan Steps.
The man and woman in their 20s from the Redruth area were cut-off by the rising tide after going for a walk along the beach, but fortunately had enough mobile phone signal to call 999 and raise the alarm with Falmouth Coastguard.
In a light north-westerly wind and calm seas, around two-hours before high tide, the RNLI volunteers rescued the pair from the shore in the charity's D class inshore lifeboat and transferred them to the larger Atlantic 85 lifeboat for the journey back to Newquay Harbour, where they were landed safely at 5pm.
The RNLI volunteers had also responded earlier in the week, when they launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Gladys Mildred shortly after 3pm on Monday (18 April) following a report of a red distress flare seen off East Pentire by RNLI lifeguards at Fistral.
The lifeboat volunteers searched an area one-mile off Pentire Point and liaised with a fishing boat three-miles further north-east, who reported seeing nothing, until Falmouth Coastguard were able to confirm that the flare had been fired by a Royal Navy helicopter on exercise in the area and the RNLI crew returned to Newquay Harbour just before 4pm after a false alarm with good intent.
Notes to editors
Please find attached picture of Newquay's two RNLI inshore lifeboats. (Credit: RNLI/Newquay).
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