Troon inshore lifeboat launches to possible kite surfer in difficulty
At 1.40pm on Saturday 18 March 2017, as some of the Troon lifeboat crew settled to watch the second half of the Scotland v Italy rugby match, the sound of the pagers interrupted their viewing as Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the inshore lifeboat.
A member of the public had notified Belfast Coastguard of a kite surfing kite drifting off Barassie Beach with no persons in sight. With concerns mounting for the kite surfer, the station's Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) authorised the launch of the lifeboat to assist.
The volunteer crew attended at the station and as the crew kitted, news came through from Belfast Coastguard that the kite surfer may already be safely ashore.
The D class inshore lifeboat Telford Shopping Centre proceeded to the scene and quickly located the drifting kite not far from the beach. The crew were then able to confirm that the kite surfer had made it ashore prior to the lifeboat's arrival.
With no persons in difficulty the crew assisted with the recovery of the kite before the lifeboat returned to station. The lifeboat was then made ready for service with the assistance of the shore crew.
RNLI Media Contacts: Andrew Limond, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Troon, 01292 314414, [email protected]
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