Two shouts in quick succession for Looe RNLI volunteer crews

Within five minutes of pagers sounding at 4.07 pm yesterday afternoon, Sunday 8 August 2021, Looe RNLI volunteer crew were launching the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith. Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) had received a 999 call reporting four persons on two blue kayaks having difficulties getting back to shore between Plaidy and Millendreath. Quickly arriving on scene our crew, Dave Jackman (helm) Clive Palfrey and Matt Jaycock, found the group who had made their own way onto Plaidy beach. After one of the crew went ashore to check they were uninjured, the D Class inshore lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Our volunteer crew were just about to leave the lifeboat station, after washing down and refuelling the D Class, when their pagers sounded again. This time, the immediate launch of the charity’s Atlantic 85 was requested to assist two persons on paddleboards or kayaks reported to be in difficulties to the west of Talland bay. Dave, Clive and Matt with a fourth crew member, Goron Jones prepared the Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II for launch. At 4.56 pm the Atlantic 85 left Looe and headed west to Talland bay. Arriving on scene our crew found two persons on kayaks fishing. They were not in any difficulties and said they did not need any assistance. After Falmouth MRCC confirmed with the first informant that the lifeboat was with the group they thought were in difficulty, our inshore lifeboat boat was stood down and returned to station.

Our volunteer crew said that the gusting offshore wind was a factor with both of these shouts. From the shore both groups looking like they were struggling to make any headway in the off shore winds and the informants did the right thing reporting their concerns to the coastguard. Lifeboat crews would prefer to launch and find everything is OK rather than learn later that someone was in difficulty and needed assistance.

Deputy launch authority, Brian Bowdler, was head launcher with tractor driver Simon Rawe. Several more of our crew, who also responded to the pager, acted as shore crew during the launch and recovery of our inshore lifeboats on these two shouts.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith returning to station after the first shout yesterday, Sunday 8 August 2021
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II returning to station after the second shout yesterday, Sunday 8 August 2021
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 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

· RNLI safety advice for yacht sailing and motorboating can be found at
https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/yacht-sailing-and-motorboating

· 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 Emma Haines, 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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.