St Agnes RNLI Lifeboat search for a missing teenager, and second incident unfold
The St Agnes RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch following a report that a teenager had gone missing on the coast between Perranporth and Trevellas.
The lifeboat was paged at 3.49pm hours on 21 July 2019, to search for a teenager, who was reported as missing after heading towards the cliff path between Perranporth and Trevellas.
The lifeboat proceeded towards Trevellas, with helm, Gavin Forehead and crew, Paul Kimberley and Lucie McNeil (on her first call out as lifeboat crew). They started searching the waterline and cliff as they headed to the general area of Perranporth. The St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team were also tasked to proceed to the first informants at Perranporth.
The lifeboat arrived at Perranporth, following a close inshore search. They were then tasked by the MRCC Falmouth to perform a slow back tack towards Trevellas, while the Coastguard Team gathered further information at Perranporth.
The Coastguards liaised with the parents of the missing teenager, and a member of the family updated the Coastguards that the teenager had been found safe and well in Perranporth.
The lifeboat was stood down and proceeded towards the Lifeboat Station at Trevaunance Cove.
On route back to the cove, a report came through that an incident was unfolding on the waters edge at Trevaunance Cove. A male, in his fifties had been pulled from the sea and RNLI lifeguards, along with RNLI lifeboat crew and Shore Crew were treating him on the beach, whilst they awaited the arrival of ambulances from the South Western Ambulance Service, the Cornwall Air Ambulance and the St Agnes Coastguard Team.
On arrival at Trevaunance Cove, the red flag had been raised by the lifeguards, closing off the sea to everyone, whilst they dealt with the ongoing incident.
Paramedics for two ambulances were in attendance with the casualty and the Cornwall Air Ambulance was approaching, so a safe landing area and exclusion zone was set up by the emergency services on scene.
The air ambulance landed in the middle of the beach and the casualty was taken from there to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske.
The casualty’s condition has not been disclosed at this time.
All the emergency services in attendance left the scene and the lifeboat was re-housed and made ready for service at 5.30pm.
Both of incidents were undertaken at the same time, by various volunteers and professional medics and rescuers from the RNLI lifeguard and lifeboat teams (including Laura Penhaul, Trev Garland, Vickie Vigus-Berry, Meg Llewellyn, Jane Buckroyd and Graham Slater from the lifeboat), Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and Cornwall Air Ambulance, all working seamlessly together, with one incident developing at the same time as the other.
A great example of the intensity of the work and skills these teams share in the very busy summer season, and how they interact together for the safety and benefit of anyone in need of assistance on the coast.
For further information and safety advice if you are heading to the coast, please see the RNLI advise:
https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Paul Kimberley, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07867160594 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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.