St Ives RNLI launches three times on Easter Sunday
The pagers sounded at 3.45pm and the volunteer crew sprang into action. Reports had come in of multiple casualties in the water at Top Cove, Godrevy area. The crew launched both the in-shore and all-weather lifeboats quickly and efficiently and made their way to the location.
Our in-shore lifeboat arrived first out of our two vessels, and when they reached the location, they could see that RNLI lifeguards from Gwithian had taken two of the casualties back to the beach, the third had made her own way in but had collapsed shortly after. Volunteer lifeboat helm, George Deacon attended the casualties along with paramedics from Cornwall Air Ambulance. Coastguard Helicopter 924 and Portreath Coastguard team were also in attendance. Then our all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene in support of the entire operation and sent volunteer Jack Coop to the beach to work with George Deacon. Our crew continued to provide casualty care.
Then at 4.18pm the crew were tasked again, the volunteers quickly decided that our in-shore lifeboat and crew were required to stay at Top Cove beach with the casualties until such time as they were reviewed and taken onward with the appropriate medical responders, and therefore our all-weather lifeboat left the scene and made their way to Portreath as an injured casualty was reported to be on the rocks underneath the Pepperpot. The said casualty was a kayaker who had managed to get himself onto a rock but was in need of support and a lifeboat. As St Ives In-shore lifeboat had stayed at Top Cove, Rob Cocking, Coxswain contacted Falmouth Coastguard and requested St Agnes in-shore lifeboat to extract the potential casualty from the rocks whilst they made their way to the scene. The crew arrived at the location, and luckily a surfer had assisted the casualty to safety and the crew recovered the kayak and headed into Portreath harbour. The casualty was assisted onto the quay where he was met by Portreath Coastguard and medical assistance. The crew then left to make their way back to St Ives.
Meanwhile the In-shore lifeboat and crew at Top Cove beach had stayed on until one casualty had been airlifted and the other two casualties received care via the ambulance crew. They then began to make their way to Portreath to assist the all-weather lifeboat with the kayaker, however they then turned back around as the situation had been resolved.
The crew were making their way home, and then at 5.53pm the pagers sounded again for the third time. The crew quickly made their way back to the station and launched the all-weather lifeboat in response to reports of 4 potential casualties in a cave to the West side of Portreath beach, reports said some may have made their way to safety, but as the information was not confirmed the crew quickly made their way to the location. Whilst approximately 5 minutes out from the location, the coastguard helicopter 924 contacted the crew to let them know that all persons had now been accounted for and that the crew could now stand down. The crew then made their way back to St Ives.
A very busy Easter Sunday for the St Ives RNLI volunteer crew. Rob Cocking, Coxswain said “Whilst it was a busy and demanding day, and no one wants to hear reports that multiple casualties are in the water, I was really pleased at how quickly and efficiently the crew executed their duties – faultless responses and rescues whilst demonstrating strong team work”
Notes to editors
Photo 1 – Top Cove Beach, Air Ambulance, All Weather Lifeboat & In Shore Lifeboat – Nick Philips RNLI
Photo 2 – Top Cove Beach, In shore lifeboat, Coastguard helipcopter and Air Ambulance – Nick Philips RNLI
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Niki Brooks, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07384 756407 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office 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.