Three shouts in three days for Looe RNLI volunteers

On Thursday evening, 15 April 2021, Falmouth Coastguard Operations Centre requested our RNLI volunteer crews to assist with a shoreline search from Looe towards Seaton. Both inshore lifeboats were launched around 8 pm but were stood down shortly afterwards.

During the following evening, Friday 16 April 2021, Falmouth Coastguards received a call from a member of the public reporting a kayak in difficulties, drifting in the Looe bay. Within eight minutes of the pager sounding at 6.51 pm our volunteer crew launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II. Our crew could not find anybody in distress, after discussion with the coastguard the call was treated as a false alarm with good intent, and the inshore lifeboat was stood down to return to station at 19.15.

Yesterday evening, Saturday 17 April 2021, Falmouth Coastguards received a 999 call from two people who were cut off by the tide between Tregantle and Freathy beaches. Shortly before 7pm our volunteer crews launched the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith closely followed by the Atlantic 85. The faster Atlantic 85 arrived on scene first and after a short search along the coastline East from Tregantle located the casualties. Confirming both were uninjured the Atlantic 85 stood by offshore whilst the D Class made its way into the cove to pick up the two people. With the casualties safely onboard the D Class, they were taken back to Tregantle beach where Tamar and Plymouth Coastguard rescue teams were waiting. Our lifeboats were then stood down and returned to station.

Dave Haines, Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager says ‘walking along the beach the people realised the tide was coming in and had cut off their exit from the cove. This weekend’s high tides are in the early evening and if you are planning a walk after tea this is a timely reminder to always check the tide times and keep aware of your surroundings, as this incident happened two hours before high tide.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II returning to station on Friday 16 April 2021
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Stock image Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith leaving Looe
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

· Looe RNLI have recently launched the Looe Lifeboat Appeal – Ollie Naismith II to raise £78,000 for a replacement D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/looe-lifeboat-appeal

· 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.