Two shouts for Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85

Looe RNLI crew pagers sounded at 4.45pm yesterday, Saturday 29 June 2019, following reports of three kayakers in difficulties off Looe island. Arriving on scene our volunteer crew on the charity’s Atlantic 85, Sheila and Dennis Tongue II found two kayakers towing the third member of their group towards Hannafore. One of the group in a “sit in” kayak had been swamped by water and the other two with “sit on” kayaks were making slow headway to Hannafore in the strong winds.

Our crew took the kayaker, who was cold and wet, back to Looe Lifeboat Station to be checked over by other members of the crew. The Atlantic 85 returned to the area to ensure the other two kayakers had made it safely to Hannafore and recovered the third kayak. After getting dry and warm, the kayaker was taken over to Hannafore by Looe Coastguard team to be reunited with their party.

Later in the evening crew pagers sounded for the second time at 9 pm. Within eight minutes our volunteer crews had launched the Atlantic 85, Sheila and Dennis Tongue II to investigate reports of a small boat drifting off Millendreath. Arriving on scene our crew found a small dinghy / tender with three persons on board, suffering engine failure they were attempting to row back to Millendreath but were being blown offshore by the north westerly wind. Our crew towed the tender back to Millendreath and returned to station to wash down and refuel the Atlantic 85 ready for her next service.

Our volunteer helms advise everyone out on the water to always carry a means of calling for help, have a waterproof vhf radio or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. Always keep these close at hand so they can be used in an emergency. Observers from the shore did the right thing by calling 999 asking for the coastguard.

END

Notes to editors

In 2016 the RNLI rescued 320 kayakers and canoeists

RNLI safety advice can be found here

https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/kayaking-and-canoeing

Photos:

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II returning to Looe from Millendreath
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II recovery
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.