A low spring tide service call for Looe RNLI volunteers

Establishing a tow line the crabber was bought back to Looe and due to the low spring tide moored in the bay off East Looe beach and the fisherman bought ashore.

Receiving reports of an inshore crabber, with one person onboard, was suffering engine problems to the west of Looe, Falmouth Coastguard requested the assistance of Looe RNLI. Paged at 2.35 pm this afternoon, Thursday 19 April 2018, volunteer RNLI crews from Looe launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II. Due to the low spring tide spectators on the Banjo Pier watched as the Talus semi submersible tractor pushed the lifeboat way past the Banjo Pier to launch. In calm sea conditions the volunteer crew made their way to the crabber’s reported position off the Hore Stone to the west of Looe Island. Quickly locating the crabber a tow line was established and the crabber was towed back towards Looe. Unable to bring the crabber back into the river due to the lack of water she was moored in the bay off East Looe beach and the fisherman was bought ashore.

Looe RNLI’s operations manager Dave Haines said it was unusual for the launching of the inshore lifeboats to coincide with a low spring tide, he cannot remember a time when the tractor had to go so far out from the Banjo Pier.

End

Notes for Editors:

Photos:

· Low tide recovery of Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II towing the crabber towards Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

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

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

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 Regional Media Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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

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