Looe RNLI volunteers assist with the rescue of two persons cut off by the tide

Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 14 October 2020, at 3.08 pm our volunteer crew launched the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith following reports of two persons cut off by the tide between Plaidy and Millendreath.

Arriving on scene the crew located the casualties below Kellow, sitting on the cliff, just above the breaking waves. Our crew attempted extract the casualties by veering down towards the cliff face, but due to rocks in front of the location, a rough four foot swell from the incoming tide and force 3 – 4 south easterly wind, two attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.

After a discussion with the Looe Coastguard Rescue team, who were on scene at Millendreath, a decision was made to extract the casualties with a technical cliff rope rescue from the cliff top. Our crew were requested to stand by offshore to provide location information and safety cover for the rope rescue teams. Assisted by Polruan coastguard rescue team members the rope rescue team safely extracted the casualties taking them up the cliff.

Our crew were then stood down and returned to station.

Boat crew Brian Bowdler (helm) Toby Bray and Victoria Thomas

Shore crew Paul Barley ( head launcher ) Eric Candy and Simon Rawe ( tractor drivers ) Jack Spree and Nathaniel Rothwell

END

Notes to editors

Veering down is a manoeuvre used during rough conditions. By setting an anchor the helm can reverse the inshore lifeboat into shallow or rocky areas to get to a casualty.

Photos:

· Looe RNLI D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith launching on service
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]

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.

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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.