St.Agnes RNLI lifeboat paged twice in one day for incidents

The St.Agnes RNLI Lifeboat was paged at 5.04pm hours on 5 May 2019, to assist in the rescue of a surfer who was reported to be difficulty at Perranporth.

The lifeboat had just touched the water, with volunteer helm, Paul Fisher and crew Laura Penhaul and Paul Kimberley, when they were stood down by the MRCC Falmouth at 5.09pm hours, as the casualty was no longer in need of assistance.

The lifeboat was rehoused at 5.25pm hours.

The pagers were activated again at 6.43pm hours, to a report, via 999, from the National Coastwatch Institute Volunteers at the lookout on St.Agnes Head.

They had spotted an open kayak in the vicinity of Bawden Rocks, which is around a mile off the coast of St.Agnes. The kayak had overturned and two people were in the water and appeared unable to right the kayak.

The St.Agnes RNLI lifeboat was launched, with volunteers, helm Gavin Forehead, crew Richard Draisey and, on his first ever emergency call out, Lloyd Stein.

The lifeboat crew arrived on scene within a few minutes and found two male casualties in the water. Other than feeling cold, they were uninjured. They were overcome by the seas and this caused the kayak to capsize. Because the kayak was an open type, they could not right it and attempt to bail it. So their only chace of survival was to be rescued form the water as it was too far to swim back to the coast.

The volunteer crew performed initial casualty care and immediately proceeded to transport the casualties back to Trevaunance Cove, St.Agnes. When the casualties arrived back onshore they were met by the St.Agnes Coastguard. The casualties were taken into the care of the RNLI shore crew who continued to provide the casualty care in the warm and dry of the lifeboat buildings.

The lifeboat crew went back out to sea and recovered the kayak and it was brought back to the shore.

Thankfully the casualties did not require any further medical assistance.

The St.Agnes RNLI Lifeboat was rehoused and ready for service at 7.45pm hours.

For further information and safety advice if you are considering kayaking, please see the RNLI website:

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

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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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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.