BOTH DUNBAR BOATS TASKED IN MISSING SURFER SEARCH

The alarm was raised when a member of the public lost sight of a surfer they had earlier seen in the water at East Beach shortly before 10.20am. UK coastguard requested both the all-weather (ALB) and inshore (ILB) lifeboats to launch.

Both crews conducted a search of the coastline from Cromwell Harbour to Dunbar Golf Club but there was no sign of a person in the water or surfboard. Members of Dunbar Coastguard also joined in the search from the shoreline.

The ILB was tasked to Belhaven Bay to see if any other surfers had relevant information but sea conditions prevented the crew from going ashore.

At 11.47am, after an extensive search, both assets were stood down.

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.

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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.