Looe RNLI investigate a drifting dinghy

Yesterday evening, Saturday 13 June 2020, Falmouth coastguard operations centre received a call from a kayaker reporting an empty dinghy drifting at the back of Looe island.

Our volunteer RNLI crew were paged at 6.42 pm and launched the charity's Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II to investigate. Arriving quickly on scene our crew found an empty small blue dinghy. A tow was established, and the dinghy was taken back to Looe lifeboat station

We have spoken to the dinghy’s owners who are arranging collection.

END

Notes to editors

· It has been a busy period for our volunteer crews, between 26 May 2020 and 13 June 2020 we have responded to eleven shouts, resulting in twelve launches of our inshore lifeboats.

Photos:

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II towing the dinghy back to the lifeboat station
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI volunteer crew Jack Spree bring the dinghy ashore at Looe lifeboat station
Photo credit RNLI / Eric Candy

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 Marianne Quinn, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789

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.