Poole Lifeboat assists two capsized kayakers in blustery conditions
Poole Lifeboat was paged today (June 17) by the UK Coastguard. This was to be the first ‘Shout’ from the new lifeboat house.
Conditions out in the bay were rough, swells being buffeted making big waves by the brisk south westerly winds. The two kayakers had set off from Swanage to paddle to Christchurch, and had fell in a few times due to the chop, aiding each over along the way and as conditions became too much, they raised the alarm for assistance. A border force patrol vessel and a rib responded initially to their requests and helped the casualties from the water, taking the kayaks on board, as the Lifeboat made its way to the scene. Once on scene the lifeboat went alongside and transferred two crew on board who administered casualty care, after their assessment an ambulance was requested to attend.
The casualties were the transferred across onto the lifeboat and taken to North Haven steps to the awaiting ambulance being passed into the care of the paramedics. The rib returned their kayak to the lifeboat station for safe keeping and the kayak was passed to the Poole Coastguards at North Haven who were also standing by.
Volunteer helmsman Alex Evans said: Conditions out there were quite rough and there was just a bit too much swell, it is advisable to check the weather and sea conditions before embarking on any voyage and have the means to call for assistance as the kayakers did today’.
Alex added; ‘The boat launched smoothly today from its new home, though we were taken aback when we arrived, to see all the motorbikes and the spectators who shared our maiden launch, it added to the pressure, but all went well’.
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.
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