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Search for overdue sea kayaker

Lifeboats News Release

Tobermory RNLI lifeboat launched shortly after 7pm last night following the report of an overdue kayaker. The kayaker, who was paddling from Lunga in the Treshnish Isles to the Isle of Ulva off the west coast of Mull, had filed a passage plan with Stornoway Coastguard but had not been heard from sin

Tobermory Severn Class Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay departing the berth

RNLI/Dr Sam Jones

Tobermory Severn Class Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay departing the berth
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The lifeboat carried out a search between Lunga and Ulva. Whilst searching in the vicinity of the kayaker's proposed campsite on the south west side of Ulva, one of the lifeboat crew spotted a tent and a man nearby. The lifeboat's daughter craft, the Y boat, was deployed with two crew aboard who quickly established that the man was the missing kayaker and had been unable to contact the Coastguard via his VHF radio or mobile phone.

Second Coxswain James Fairbairns said: 'This was a very well equipped kayaker following best practice by informing the Coastguard of his intentions which is why we were able to locate him so quickly.'

For advice from the RNLI on how to enjoy kayaking safely, please visit https://rnli.org/…/choose-your-activi…/kayaking-and-canoeing

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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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