Two shouts in two days for Looe RNLI volunteers

Yesterday evening, Friday 4 May 2018 our volunteer RNLI crews were paged at 5.24 pm following reports of a male in difficulties on rocks to the west of Talland beach. Within 6 minutes the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith was leaving Looe heading towards Talland. On arrival the crew spoke to a kayaker who informed them there was a male on the rocks waving to attract his attention as he thought a seabird was trapped on a marker flag close by. With no one in sight the crew made their way to the beach to speak to the first informant who confirmed they had seen a male waving frantically at the same location. After another check of the rocks to establish no one was in trouble the crew were stood down and returned to Looe.

Volunteer helm of the inshore lifeboat Dave Jackman said that the first informants did the right thing in calling the coastguard after seeing what they thought from a distance was someone in trouble. We would always rather launch and not be needed, than not be called and learn that someone was really in danger. Anyone who has concerns about people along the coast should act promptly and call 999 to alert the Coastguard.

The second shout for Looe RNLI volunteers came at 2.39 pm this afternoon, Saturday 5 May 2018, when, following reports of a female in difficulties in the sea off Seaton beach, both of the charity’s inshore lifeboats were launched on service. The Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and D Class Ollie Naismith inshore lifeboats launched from the river and headed over to Seaton. Arriving first on scene the crew of the Atlantic 85 found the female a quarter of a mile off shore being assisted by two paddle boarders. Supported by the D Class inshore lifeboat the crew quickly bought her onboard the Atlantic 85 and immediately returned to Looe Lifeboat Station where the casualty was handed over into the care of paramedics and Devon and Cornwall Police. Looe Coastguard team were also in attendance.

End

Notes for Editors:

No photographs from these two shouts are available

Photos:

· Stock image - Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II leaving Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Stock image - Looe RNLI’s D Class Ollie Naismith returning to 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]

or

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

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty 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.

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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.