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Exmouth RNLI search for missing Paddle boarder

Lifeboats News Release

Exmouth RNLI volunteer crew launched today to search for a missing paddleboarder.

Mark Campbell

Exmouth Inshore Lifeboat commences a search

At 6:29pm today Sunday 4 July 2021 both Exmouth RNLI Lifeboats were tasked by H.M. Coastguard to search for a missing paddleboarder between Straight Point to east of Budleigh Salterton.

Exmouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat D-805 George Bearman II launched at 6.37pm, crewed by Harry Griffin, Henry Mock, Ed Thomas and Mark Cockman. The lifesavers commenced a detailed shoreline search from Straight Point to east of Budleigh Salterton.

Exmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat 13-03 R & J Welburn launched at 6.50pm commanded by Second Coxswain Scott Ranft and crew Roger Moore, David Preece, Andrew Stott, Matt Bragg and James Searle. They took on a similar offshore search for the paddleboarder, described as wearing a bright orange top and using a grey and white paddleboard and black paddle, and who was last seen at 5.45pm on the water off Lime Kiln Car Park, Budleigh Salterton. Two H.M. Coastguard search and rescue teams also assisted in the search on the ground in the same vicinity.

At the conclusion of a comprehensive search by the lifeboats with no sightings of the paddleboarder, both were stood down by H.M. Coastguard at 7.47pm today and were back on service a short time later.

RNLI safety advice for paddleboarders can be found here :

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

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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