RNLI Sennen Cove lifeboat investigates unidentified object.
On Thursday afternoon 21 May, Cape Cornwall National Coastwatch volunteers reported the sighting of an unidentified object, white in colour, floating about 2 miles northwest of their lookout. It was heading in a northerly direction.
At the request of HM Coastguard Falmouth, the Tamar class lifeboat City of London III launched at 2.15 pm, with 6 crew on board. The Land's End Cliff Rescue Team was also tasked to try and obtain a sighting of the object from the shore. The Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter was alerted too, but later stood down.
With the help of the Coastwatch team, the lifeboat crew located the object about 3 miles off the lookout's position. The crew were unable to decide what it was, since there were no identifiying marks. It was a large piece of timber which was too heavy to be hauled onto the lifeboat
An exact position of the object was given to HM Coastguard so that shipping could be warned of its location. The lifeboat then returned to Sennen Cove and was recovered up the long slip at 3.15 pm.
Ends.
Notes to editors
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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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