Looe RNLI volunteers investigate an empty kayak drifting off second beach

This afternoon, Tuesday 17 November 2020, Falmouth coastguard operations centre received a call reporting an empty kayak drifting off the eastern end of second beach, East Looe. Looe coastguard rescue team were tasked to investigate and located a red and yellow sit on kayak being washed by the incoming tide into a small rocky inlet to the west of Plaidy beach. The kayak appeared to be empty but the coastguard team could not reach the inlet to see if there were any persons in difficulties. At 3.47 pm our volunteer crew pagers were activated after the coastguard rescue team requested our assistance. Within eight minutes the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith was launched and headed towards second beach. Arriving quickly on scene our crew was able to confirm there was no one in the water. Our crew recovered the kayak and returned with the empty kayak to Looe Lifeboat Station.

Commenting on the shout Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Dave Haines, said ‘the first informants did the right thing in contacting the coastguard as there could have been people in difficulties in the water. Dave goes on to say this is our second shout within the last month to drifting kayaks in the vicinity of Plaidy beach. There had been reports of three kayaks being washed off the beach during the stormy weather last weekend. He recommends that ‘owners of kayaks stored close to the shore make sure their kayaks are firmly secured to the storage racking or railings, or better still they are removed from the beach for winter storage.

The D Class inshore lifeboat returned to station to be washed down, refuelled, and made ready for service by 4.30 pm.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith heading towards second beach, East Looe
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith returning to station with the kayak
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

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]

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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