Sunday 20 December 2020, New Brighton Lifeboat was requested to launch by UK Coastguard to a report of a kite surfer in difficulty near to the clown roundabout, New Brighton.
The volunteer crew from New Brighton launched and were assisted by resources from Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team who were trying to locate the casualty from the shore.
The New Brighton vessel arrived on scene and quickly identified the casualty who was approximately a quarter of a mile from the shore.
The lifeboat crew were able to bring the kite surfer and kite on board the boat and return them to the safety of the beach. There were no injuries reported and no further assistance required from the waiting North West Ambulance Service
Mark Dyer, Deputy Launching Authority, New Brighton Lifeboat said: ‘The kite surfer had gone out in a group who were all looking out for each other. They realised one of the group were in danger and were able to raise the alarm.’
During the incident the kite surfer was also able to set of a red distress flare to signal for help. Should any members of the public see a red distress flare having been set off, please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard who operate a 24/7 call centre and will be able deploy the required resources to the incident.
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.
