
Cowes lifeboat responds to capsized windsurfer emergency
Cowes lifeboat was launched at 5.15 pm on Saturday 8 July to search for a windsurfer, reported to have fallen into the water, never to return to upright position.
The lifeboat began a thorough search of a wide area west of Cowes, and was joined by Calshot lifeboat. Eventually a UKSA rib radioed that it had recovered the surfer and was landing him and his board at Gurnard Green.
It appeared that the windsurfer had had problems because of a complete loss of wind. It was while paddling with the board back to Gurnard that he was spotted by the UKSA craft. He appeared none the worse for experience.
Cowes lifeboat returned to station at 6 pm
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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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