Looe RNLI volunteers rescue two kayakers from a cove by Portwrinkle

Yesterday afternoon, Thursday 17 September 2020, at 3.41 pm our volunteer RNLI crews launched both inshore lifeboats. Falmouth Coastguard operations centre had received a call from a person on the cliff path reporting two kayakers in difficulties in a cove to the west of Portwrinkle.

Arriving on scene our crew, on the charity’s D Class Ollie Naismith, found two kayakers on the sand, who had become separated by a rocky outcrop in a cove west of Portwrinkle. With the incoming tide and force 4 easterly wind creating a shore dump they had been washed ashore and were unable to leave the beach. Timing his approach helm Matt Jaycock took the D Class through the swell to the beach, where the first kayaker was helped into the lifeboat by crew Toby Bray and Aaron Rix. The kayaker was transferred to the Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II before the D class returned to the cove to pick up the second kayaker. Confirming both kayakers were uninjured they were taken to Portwrinkle harbour where they were met by Looe Coastguard team.

On the way back to Looe the crew on the Atlantic 85 Clive Palfrey, Nathaniel Rothwell, Brian Bowdler and Alastair Pearn spotted two more kayakers in the same location as the first pair. Confirming these kayakers were safe our crew informed them about the previous incident and offered safety advice.

Shore crew were Del Palfrey Paul Barley Eric Candy Paul Crossley and Tom Langan.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith launching on service
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II heading towards Portwrinkle
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 looelpo@ianfoster.com or ian_foster@rnli.org.uk

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager, on 07920 818807 or amy_caldwell@rnli.org.uk

or Marianne Quinn, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or marianne_quinn@rnli.org.uk

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 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.