St Agnes RNLI Lifeboat has two call outs in one day
St Agnes RNLI D-Class ILB is tasked to a dog and its owner after the dog falls from cliffs near Perranporth and the owner climbs down to help. Shortly afterwards, they had a second call to people cut off by the incoming tide
At 12:11 St Agnes RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was paged to assist St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team after a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a young Springer Spaniel fallen from cliffs at Cligga Head, the the West of Perranporth. The lifeboat launched four minutes later at 12:15 with Paul Fisher at the helm accompanied by Tom Knight and Iona Fisher, on her first service since joining the crew.
On route to the scene, the crew received further information that the dog’s owner and another person had descended the cliffs. The lifeboat crew were then tasked to attempt to rescue the people and, if feasible, the dog. Having located the site of the incident, helm, Paul Fisher, took the lifeboat to within a safe distance of the foreshore and crew member Tom Knight swam to shore to assess the situation. On making the beach he discovered that the dog’s owner and companion had climbed out of the cove.
According to St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue, sadly, the dog died while the owner and companion were safe and well.
The RNLI would like to take this opportunity to remind people that, no matter how well trained, dogs should be kept on the lead when on cliff tops. For more information on dog walking safety please visit: RNLI Coastal Dog Walking
The St.Agnes RNLI Lifeboat was refuelled, rehoused, and ready for service at 13:20 hours.
At 18:08 the crew was paged again, and the lifeboat was tasked to assist persons in the Porthtowan area who appeared to be cut off by the rising tide. In rising winds and seas the lifeboat launched at 18:15 with senior helm Gavin Forehead, accompanied by volunteer crew members, Trevelyan Garland and Tom Forehead.
Having made excellent time on passage the lifeboat arrived on scene in minutes. The crew searched the area identified by the Coastguard. It soon became clear that a group of youths, who had been on the rocks, had subsequently moved to safety.
The lifeboat was stood down by the coastguard at 18:40 and was refuelled and rehoused ready for service by 19:30.
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 142,700 lives.
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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.