Looe RNLI volunteers rescue two persons and a dog cut off by tide at Portwrinkle

The volunteer crew escorted the casualties over the rocks onto the D Class inshore lifeboat and took them back to Downderry.

Earlier this afternoon Falmouth Coastguard control centre received a 999 call from a kayaker reporting two persons with a dog cut off by the tide in a small cove to the west of Portwrinkle. Looe RNLI volunteer crew were paged at 4.57 pm and quickly launched both inshore lifeboats. First to arrive on scene was the charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II, with the incoming tide breaking over rocks on the foreshore the Atlantic 85 was unable to reach the casualties so one of the crew from the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith made his way 20 feet over rocks to reach the casualties. Finding the casualties uninjured our crew helped the group back over the rocks onto the D Class lifeboat. With the two casualties and their dog safely on board they were taken back to the slipway on Downderry beach.

Both Looe RNLI volunteer helms commented that it would have been a far more difficult rescue had it not been for the prompt action from the kayaker realising the persons were in difficulty and making the 999 call to the coastguard. With nowhere safe to shelter from the incoming tide the beach would have completely covered in water within two hours and there was no easy way up the cliff. They recommend when walking along the beaches or coastline to check the tide times and always carry a means of calling for help.

The inshore lifeboats returned to station where they were washed down, refuelled and made ready for service by 6pm.

End

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Stock image - Looe RNLI’s inshore lifeboats Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and D Class Ollie Naismith launching from Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II returning to Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI’s D Class inshore lifeboat 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

Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

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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