RNLI Kessock rescue canoeist struggling against tide
Kessock Lifeboat volunteers were paged to launch this afternoon (Sunday 24 April) to assist a canoeist at the mouth of the River Ness.
The alarm was raised at 5.26pm when the lone paddler was seen by a passing vessel who contacted the UK Coastguard.
Launching the Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Robert and Isobel Mowat just a few minutes later the volunteer crew made the very short journey from the RNLI lifeboat station in North Kessock to the canoeist who was struggling to make any way against the tide and starting to become exhausted.
Weather conditions were good at the time and the tide was falling.
When the lifeboat crew, under the command of volunteer Helmsman Stan MacRae, arrived with the paddler they quickly established that apart from fatigue the man was in good health and wearing a lifejacket.
He was taken aboard the lifeboat, the Canadian canoe taken under tow and both were taken to the slipway at South Kessock where they were met by the Inverness Coastguard Team.
The RNLI voluneteers then made their way back to the lifeboat station and recovered the lifeboat to make it ready for the next service call.
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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.
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