St Agnes RNLI lifeboat crew rescues paddleboarder caught in offshore wind

With strong offshore winds and choppy conditions, concerns for the safety of the paddle boarder prompted experienced lifeboat volunteer Tom Forehead to get help. On this occasion, the help was to come from him and volunteer crew members Iona Fischer and Liam Richards.

At 5.13pm the volunteers of St Agnes RNLI were paged by Falmouth Coastguard and just 6 minutes later the D-Class inshore lifeboat (ILB) was launched. Reaching the casualty in less than 3 minutes the crew found that the adult male casualty had managed to reach rocks in the Polberro Cove area. The casualty was made safe and returned to Trevaunance Cove within in 5 minutes. With the casualty safely ashore, the lifeboat returned to the scene to recover the stand-up paddle board (SUP).

St Agnes RNLI lifeboat was refuelled, rehoused, disinfected and ready for service at 5.35pm.

With more fine weather forecast along with strong winds, St Agnes’ Lifeboat Operations Manager Emma Watkins gave this reminder,

“While the sea looks almost like the Med some days, water temperatures are still low and conditions can be challenging. Proper equipment and clothing is essential as the water is much colder than it looks and cold water shock can kill. We urge members of the public to seek advice before entering the water.”

For more information on how to stay safe when using a SUP.

https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/stand-up-paddle-boarding

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Tom Knight, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07538 418391 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 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 142,200 lives.

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.