Ilfracombe RNLI rescue three fishermen cut off by the tide

The pagers sounded at 1.25am and the volunteer crew soon mustered to launch both lifeboats despite a frosty start for their vehicles. The all-weather lifeboat, The Barry and Peggy High Foundation and our inshore lifeboat, The Deborah Brown II, made their way to Broad Sands beach and soon located the casualties.

All three were caught out by the tide. Although experienced fishermen, they had underestimated the rise of tide and a 1.5m swell was running in choppy seas. When realising their difficulty one man took the decision to raise the alarm, but with no phone signal he moved across the rocks and was taken into the water by the swell. The casualty was wearing a flotation suit but had a backpack and waders on, so had a struggle to free himself. He managed to kick off his waders but was battered on the rocks. He then wrestled to make his way to land and picked up a phone signal to call the Coastguards and raise the alarm.

He was brought back to Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station by Ilfracombe Coastguards, while his two friends were picked up by the inshore lifeboat and transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and taken back to Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station.

The injured casualty said: 'I never imagined I'd end up in the water and had serious concerns for my safety.'

The Coastguards administered first aid and the casualties were picked up for home.

Volunteer Second Coxswain Carl Perrin said: 'It was a very favourable outcome which could have been so easily a far worse result.'

Both boats were back and ready for service at 3.45am.

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.