Sunday lunchtime call for Looe RNLI lifeboat crews to assist a speedboat

The crew quickly located the speedboat, established a line and towed the speedboat with four people on board back to the Millpool slipway.

Pagers interupted Looe RNLI’s volunteers Sunday lunchtime when they sounded at 12.55 pm yesterday, Sunday 18 June 2017. HM Coastguard Falmouth had received a call from a 20 foot speedboat suffering engine failure off Looe Island. The charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith, launched and made her way towards Looe island. Quickly locating the speedboat, the crew established a line and towed the speedboat back up river to the Millpool Slipway.

The D Class inshore lifeboat returned to Looe Lifeboat Station where she was washed down and refuelled ready to go back on service at 13.40 pm.

This was the second shout for Looe RNLI volunteers this weekend where broken down boats out in Looe bay needed the RNLI’s assistance. With this current spell of sunny weather many people are taking their boats and pleasure craft out onto the water. Looe RNLI want you to enjoy and make the most of these sunny days, but to keep yourselves safe at the same time by taking some common sense precautions. Inspect your boat to check it is sea worthy, ensure you have enough fuel for your planned journey, have suitable navigation aids, a VHF Radio to summon help if needed and always wear lifejackets.

END

Notes to editors

· Picture -
Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith launch
credit Darren Blight

· Picture -
Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith towing the speedboat in Looe river

· credit Darren Blight

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website www.looelifeboats.co.uk

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Public Relations Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

or

Carrie Garrad, RNLI Press Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789.

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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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.