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Sennen and Penlee Lifeboats launch to reported upturned vessel off Land's End

Sennen and Penlee Lifeboats launch to reported upturned vessel off Land's End

Lifeboats News Release

Wednesday 19 October 2016

At 10.14am on Tuesday 18 October, the crew pagers at RNLI Penlee sounded and the volunteer crew were tasked to join the search for possible persons in the water 6 miles west of Land's End.

A passing merchant ship, the MV Zeeland, had spotted and reported the upturned vessel to HM Coastguard at Falmouth.

The all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen immediately launched from Newlyn and steamed to the search area where they joined the Sennen Cove lifeboat City of London III and the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter 924. A coordinated and well organised search then took place.

At about 11.30am the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 924 located the upturned vessel about 3 nautical miles off its first reported position. The Sennen lifeboat proceeded to the position at full speed and the crew were able to confirm that the upturned vessel had been in the water for some considerable time - there was little chance of anyone being onboard or in the water.

The crew of the Sennen Cove lifeboat then did an amazing job in very difficult sea conditions and managed to get a tow attached to the upturned vessel. The tow was then passed to the Penlee lifeboat Ivan Ellen and the intention was to tow it back to Newlyn.

After a few minutes it became apparent that the 6m fibre glass pleasure craft was going to break up at sea. Coxswain Patch Harvey brought the upturned vessel alongside the Ivan Ellen and the lifeboat's powerful crane was used to winch it onboard. It was then taken back to Newlyn and identified as a vessel called Iris. HM Coastguards at Falmouth are still investigating the origins of this vessel.

Penlee crew - Coxswain Patch Harvey, Mechanic Tony Rendle, Rich Nicholls, Kenny Downing, Will Treneer, Mike Isles, Andrew Stevens, and a first 'shout' for Jason Ward.

Weather - Wind - WNW Force 5, 2m swell, moderate sea conditions.

RNLI Coxswain Patch Harvey said, 'This was team work at its very best in difficult sea conditions. HM Coastguard at Falmouth made exactly the right call in launching both lifeboats and tasking the helicopter to join the search. Speed is of the essence in these circumstances - it could easily have been one of our local fishing vessels and the chance of any survival would only have been increased with the speed and reaction of both services. A job well done by all those involved'.

Please credit RNLI Penlee/Volunteer crewman Rich 'Nabo' Nicholls for all the photos.

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.

Elaine Trethowan

Lifeboat Press Officer, Penlee Lifeboat Station

Sennen and Penlee Lifeboats launch to reported upturned vessel off Land's End

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