Fowey RNLI volunteer team rescue seven men
Fowey's two RNLI lifeboats launched on Friday 22 June to an 18-foot bowrider Summer Breeze, which had broken down and was taking on water through the engine air vents.
The volunteer crewmembers aboard the D-817 Olive Three were sent at speed to find and rescue the seven men who had reported their position as being 500 yards south west of the Cannis buoy. When the ingress of water was reported, the all-weather lifeboat Maurice and Joyce Hardy was launched to assist with the salvage pump.
Adam Russell, Kai A’Lee and Graham Middlewood on the D-class took the seven men aboard and established a tow. Graham then went on the casualty vessel to monitor the water ingress. When the all-weather lifeboat reached the scene the D-class was brought alongside; the seven men were taken on board and the tow was re-rigged to speed the return to the safety of the harbour. The surprising amount of swell had meant the D-class had only been able to travel at 2 knots per hour in the north, north easterly force 4 breeze.
With the men off, the water stopped coming in and it was realised it had come in through the engine air vents as the boat was too low in the water and the boat’s own bilge pump was able to deal with it.
When in the harbour, the tow was taken back by the D-class crew and one of the rescues came back on board to help bring the boat ashore at Caffa Mill where its trailer was waiting.
The remaining six were brought ashore at Berril’s Yard as the lifeboat was returned to its base to be made ready for service.
This is the second incident this year where the main cause has been the overloading of the vessel. The RNLI reminds boat users to adhere to the vessel’s recommended loading limits and advised area of use when putting to sea.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Cath Beard, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Fowey RNLI on 07969 693218. For urgent calls out of hours please contact the Duty RNLI Press Officer on 01202 336789.
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.