Kayakers in need of assistance in Loch Sunart

The volunteer crew of the Tobermory Lifeboat launched shortly after 10:45am and headed across the Sound of Mull to Loch Sunart. As the Tobermory Lifeboat made its way to the casualties’ location they were notified that a local vessel had arrived to assist the kayakers and were now out of the water.

Shortly after the Tobermory Lifeboat arrived on scene and the casualties were transferred aboard. Once aboard both casualties received treatment for immersion as they had been in the water for a significant period.

As the treatment continued the Tobermory Lifeboat made its way to Salen, where the Coastguard and the Scottish Ambulance Service met it. The volunteer lifeboat crew briefed the ambulance crew on the treatment they had given, and the casualties were handed over to the Scottish ambulance service.

Lifeboat Mechanic Paul Gunn commented ‘Thankyou to the local vessel for their assistance, as getting them out of the water definitely improved the situation of the kayakers as immersion in cold water is a time critical situation’.

RNLI media contacts:

Michael Stirling, Tobermory Lifeboat Press Officer on 07921 515686, [email protected] or [email protected]

Or Gemma McDonald, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

RNLI online For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/pressKey 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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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.