Two shouts in one day for Ilfracombe RNLI
The volunteer crew launched the Ilfracombe RNLI inshore lifeboat to two shouts on Saturday 8 August, the first to reports of a man in the water at Combe Martin and the second to two people cut off by tide near Broadsands beach.
The Ilfracombe RNLI D class inshore lifeboat the Deborah Brown II was launched just after 8 a.m. on Saturday 8 August to reports of a man in the water at Combe Martin. When the lifeboat arrived on scene it was found that the man had been rescued and taken onboard a fishing vessel. RNLI volunteer lifeboat Helm Matt Glubb made contact with the captain of the fishing vessel to check that the man was unharmed. The captain of the fishing vessel had been transferring passengers from the shore to the fishing vessel when the man fell into the water transferring from the tender to the fishing boat. The man was unharmed, and the lifeboat returned to station.
The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged again at 7.06 p.m. the same day to assist two people cut off by tide at Egg Rock, near Broadsands beach. The D class inshore lifeboat made good speed in calm conditions to the scene where they found two people, a man and a woman sitting on the rock. The two people were assisted aboard the lifeboat and taken back to the beach where they were met by the Ilfracombe Coastguard. The lifeboat then made its way back to Ilfracombe harbour arriving back at station at 7.55 p.m. where it was cleaned and made ready for the next service.
Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Helm Gillian Cole said: ‘We would urge people walking or exploring around the bays and beaches here in North Devon to always check the tide timetables before setting out as the tide can come in very quickly and it is easy to get caught out. The people stranded today had a mobile phone and were able to call for assistance. We would always recommend that people carry a means of calling for help and if they get into difficulties dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'
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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