A four shout Sunday for Looe RNLI volunteers

Our crew on the D Class rescued two persons on board third inflatable which was blown further out to sea. Shortly afterwards our crews launched the Atlantic 85 to tow a boat, which had run out of fuel, back to Looe

Lunchtime, Sunday 28 July 2019, and the strong north easterly force 3 winds were causing problems for beach users on inflatables. In three separate incidents inflatables were blown out to sea.

The first shout came in at 11.32 am, with reports of an inflatable being blown out to sea past the Banjo Pier, Looe RNLI volunteers had just launched the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith when they were stood down as passing paddleboarders bought the inflatable back to the beach. Just over an hour later a second inflatable was blown out to sea with our crew being alerted at 12.44 pm, they were stood down before launching as this inflatable was bought back to the beach by a kayaker. The third incident occurred 2.54 pm when two persons on an inflatable were being blown further out to sea. Launching the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith within four minutes the crew were quickly alongside and transferred the two casualties onto the lifeboat and taken back to the lifeboat station. Looe Coastguard team who also responded rescued a fourth inflatable off the Banjo Pier with a throw line.

Dave Haines, Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, says ‘any one of these incidents could have so easily ended in tragedy, blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out offshore.’

Every summer inflatables are one of the most common reasons our lifeboat crews and lifeguards get called into action. If you're heading to the beach with an inflatable, please stay safe #RespectTheWater and follow the RNLI beach safety advice

• ensure children are closely supervised
• keep near the shore
• do not take inflatables out in big waves
• never use them when the orange windsock is flying, as this indicates offshore winds which will blow inflatables further out to sea
• if they are used on lifeguarded beaches, only use between the red and yellow beach flags and follow the lifeguard’s advice
• if you do get into difficulty, then stay with your inflatable as it will keep you above the water
• if you see someone in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

Crew pagers sounded for the fourth time at 4.49 pm following a call for assistance from 3 people onboard an 18’ boat which had run out of fuel three miles south east of Looe. Launching the Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II our crew quickly arrived on scene, established a tow line and bought the boat back into Looe river.

END

Notes to editors

No photos from this shout are available

RNLI beach safety advice https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety

Photos:

· Stock image - Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith leaving Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Stock image - Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II leaving Looe
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]

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.