Two shouts in quick succession for Looe RNLI volunteer crews

Yesterday afternoon, Thursday 22 July 2021, a 20’ boat with five persons and a dog onboard ran aground on the Limmicks rocks. One of our former crew, Ben Crabb, saw the incident unfold and alerted our Lifeboat Operations Manager and the coastguards. Crew pagers sounded at 4.18 pm and shortly afterwards the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith was launched. A minute later our Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II launched carrying a salvage pump. Our crews quickly arrived on scene and one crew member from the D Class waded over the rocks to assess the situation. The casualties were transferred onto the D Class lifeboat and taken back to the Lifeboat Station where they were checked over. Our crew on the Atlantic 85 remained on scene to recover the boat. The pump was not needed as the hull appeared to be watertight so our crew moved the boat off the rocks and towed it back to the slipway on West Looe Quay where it can be checked for damage at low tide.

Returning to the lifeboat station our crews had just left the station after washing down and refuelling the lifeboats when their pagers sounded again at 6.31 pm. Within five minutes our Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II launched again, this time to assess and assist 2 persons onboard a 26’ yacht, which was on passage from Falmouth to Plymouth and failing to make any headway south of Looe Island. Arriving on scene our two of the crew went onboard the yacht to check the casualties. The crew remained onboard whilst the Atlantic 85 escorted the yacht to the visitor mooring on West Looe quayside. After returning to the station and washing down the Atlantic 85 our crew left the lifeboat station around 8 pm.

Commenting on the first shout, our volunteer crew praised the versatility of the D Class Ollie Naismith, and the inshore lifeboat’s importance to rescues in our area. With the D Class’s shallow draft, we were able to get close to the casualty vessel and transfer the casualties quickly and safely into the lifeboat. With the Ollie Naismith coming to the end of its operation life we are asking the community to help us bring the Ollie Naismith II to Looe by supporting our Lifeboat Appeal. Donations can be made through our justgiving pages www.justgiving.com/fundraising/looe-lifeboat-appeal

Dave Haines, our Lifeboat Operations Manager, says you can easily get caught out sailing on long trips. It pays to be prepared for any eventuality and offers these safety tips

• Always wear an appropriate lifejacket.
• Always carry a means of calling and signalling for help.
• Ensure there is an emergency action plan in place and everybody has an onboard briefing
• Get the right level of training for your craft.
• Always check the weather and tide times.
• Make sure someone ashore knows where you are going and who to call if you don't return on time.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Recent launch of Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Recent launch of Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II
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

· 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 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.