Looe RNLI volunteers launch following reports of three kayakers in difficulties

At 2.07 pm this afternoon, Saturday 9 November 2019, Falmouth Coastguard operations centre received a 999 call, reporting three kayakers in difficulties in Talland bay. With their pagers sounding, Looe RNLI volunteers quickly launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II. Volunteer helm Brian Bowdler and crew, Vicky Thomas, Tom Langan and Dave Jackman, headed straight towards Talland bay to locate the group. Shortly after commencing a search, our crew were updated with a more detailed description of the kayakers from the coastguards. Realising this description matched a group of kayakers they spotted on their way out, closer to Hannafore than Talland, our crew made their way back to find the kayakers, now on land at Hannaforeannafore. One of the crew went ashore to speak to the kayakers who confirmed they had come back from Talland, where they had been washed against rocks and one of the group had capsized. They had managed to self recover and make their way safely back to shore at Hannafore.

After confirming this was the group of kayakers reported to be in difficulty, the lifeboat was stood down by the coastguards and our crew returned to the lifeboat station, where the Atlantic 85 was washed down and prepared for service by 3.30 pm.

One of Looe RNLI’s volunteer helms, Dave Jackman who was crew on the Atlantic 85 this afternoon, was pleased to see the three kayakers were well prepared, wearing lifejackets and carrying radios. Dave went on to say that ‘from the shore it would look like the kayakers were in difficulty and the first informant did the right thing in dialing 999 to report the incident to the coastguard.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

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

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II returning to 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

· Kayaking is one of the most popular watersports in the UK
RNLI safety advice for kayakers can be found on the RNLI website
https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/kayaking-and-canoeing

· 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.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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