Looe RNLI volunteers rescue a male cut off by the tide
Earlier this afternoon, volunteers from Looe RNLI launched both inshore lifeboats to rescue a male cut off by the tide by long rock to the east of Downderry. Two volunteer crew went ashore to assess the situation and help the casualty through the surf onto the D Class lifeboat
The male was taken back to the main beach at Downderry.
Earlier this afternoon, Saturday 2 February 2019, a 999 call was received by Falmouth coastguard control centre from a male who found himself cut off by the tide by long rock to the east of Downderry. Responding to their pagers at 1.39 pm Looe RNLI volunteers launched both inshore lifeboats within six minutes. Both lifeboats quickly headed across Looe Bay towards Downderry. Arriving on scene first, the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II, started a shore line search. The D Class Ollie Naismith started searching from the other side of the beach, the crew on the Atlantic 85 spotted the casualty through the breaking surf. Volunteer helm, Clive Palfrey, made the decision to put a crew member, Tom Peat, ashore to assess the situation, he was joined by, Richard Porter, from the D class lifeboat. Finding the casualty uninjured, the two crew members, helped the male through the surf onto the D Class lifeboat. The male was taken back to the main beach at Downderry, where he was met by members of Looe Coastguard team.
Clive Palfrey, Looe RNLI volunteer helm on the Atlantic 85 says: ‘It was difficult to see the beach through the breaking surf and the height advantage with the Atlantic 85 proved invaluable to locate the casualty.’
Dan Margetts, volunteer helm on the D Class lifeboat says ‘the D Class is highly manoeuvrable and operating close to shore, it comes into it’s own for rescues in the surf.’
Both helms advise everyone on the coast to watch the weather and tides, always check tide times before you set off and carry a means of calling for help with a charged battery. They both commented that the casualty did the right thing, when realising he was cut off, by calling 999 asking for the coastguard.
Returning to station both lifeboats were washed down and refuelled ready for service by 3 pm.
END
Notes to editors
Photos:
· Both Looe RNLI inshore lifeboats returning to Looe from Downderry
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster
Information
· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith
· 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]
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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