RNLI Torbay lifeboat crew on two late evening callouts on 12 April
Torbay’s volunteer RNLI inshore lifeboat crew were called out twice during the evening of 12 March, first to reports of a marker buoy adrift, then later that evening to assist with a distressed person.
The first ‘shout’ came after a dog-walker spotted a Personal Locator Beacon (or ‘PLB’) which is a dive marker buoy, floating in the sea off Breakwater Beach, Brixham and contacted the Coastguard. As a result, the inshore lifeboat launched at 8pm to investigate and found the buoy with a trailing rope which was snagging something on the seabed. The buoy was retrieved and the rope, when freed, was shown to be cut. Following a careful search of the area on the seaward side of the Breakwater nothing further was found and (since no divers were reported missing) the crew was stood down at 8.45pm.
The RNLI inshore lifeboat crew launched again at 10pm to assist in a multi-agency response to reports of a distressed person in the sea off Torre Abbey Sands. As well as the RNLI Torbay inshore lifeboat crew, Police and Coastguard were also on scene and the person was eventually persuaded to return to the shore. The lifeboat crew remained nearby throughout in case the casualty went further into the water, but were stood down following their safe return around 11pm.
Notes to editors
- Torbay Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1866. To learn more about the station, go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/torbay-lifeboat-station
- Coxswain of Torbay Lifeboat is Mark Criddle
- Further information on Torbay Lifeboat Station’s local activities can be seen at http://www.torbaylifeboat.co.uk/
- Photograph of the RNLI inshore lifeboat attending Torre Abbey Sands attached (grainy quality night time still from helmet cam video)
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