Two Rescued from Forth

The volunteer crew was called at 5.20pm after the coastguard received a call for assistance from the one person on board who reported that there was a problem with the mast.

Around eight minutes after launch, the lifeboat located the vessel. A Forth Ports pilot boat also assisted by marking the position of the vessel until the arrival of the lifeboat. The casualty was located approximately 2.5 miles south of Pettycur.

Helm, Mike Chalmers continued, ‘We quickly located the two casualties with the help of the pilot boat. The two were much further offshore than they thought and were found to the south of the main shipping channel with a strong northerly wind blowing them southwards.

‘We got the person out of the dinghy and decided we’d tow it back to Pettycur where they had set off from earlier. On arrival, a kayaker was also found to be present and had been accompanying the person in the dinghy. The kayaker then capsized and required to be rescued.

‘Once both casualties were safely onboard the lifeboat, the dinghy then capsized as it did not have a keel. Once the crew righted and emptied it we took it under tow. The two watercraft and casualties were taken back to Pettycur where Kinghorn Coastguard Rescue Team assisted with getting the two males safely ashore. Both casualties were cold but uninjured.

‘We would recommend that you are properly prepared when going out on small vessels. You should have appropriate clothing and vessels should be in good conditions and suitable for the conditions. Please check the weather forecast and consider how it could affect your activity. Further advice is available on the RNLI website at https://rnli.org/safety

If you see anyone in trouble on the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. UK Coastguard has a multitude of resources they can call on, including RNLI lifeboats.

Notes to editors

• Kinghorn lifeboat station has been operating since 1965. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/kinghorn
• A video of an Atlantic 85 lifeboat can be viewed at http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press_centre/videos/video_detail?articleid=321844&category=&region=&listing
• A video of the call is available here: https://source.rnli.org.uk/l/f18d7d1812aa426/

RNLI media contacts -

For more information please telephone Neil Chalmers, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07767 380274 or [email protected]

Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 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.