Newquay RNLI volunteers responded to their pagers on Wednesday night (28 April) following multiple reports of a windsurfer in difficulties between Porth and Lusty Glaze, and were put on stand-by to assist with a police incident in Newquay Bay on Saturday (1 May).
RNLI/Andy Hobkinson
Newquay RNLI D class inshore lifeboat returning from exercise at low tide earlier in the week
The volunteer crew launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 7.48pm and were on scene just a couple of minutes later. On arrival, the windsurfer had already stowed his kit and the lifeboat crew assisted the casualty onboard, before he was landed safely ashore at Porth Beach, where he was met by members of Newquay Coastguard rescue team.
The lifeboat crew returned to station at Newquay Harbour and the lifeboat was made ready for service by 8.15pm.
Newquay's RNLI volunteers were paged again at 1.30pm on Saturday (1 May) and requested to come to 'immediate readiness' at the lifeboat station, following notification of an ongoing police incident and concern for a man's safety in Newquay Bay.
A police suspect had entered the sea at Towan Beach to evade officers and was swimming towards the harbour. Whilst RNLI lifeguard colleagues monitored the man's progress across the bay, the lifeboat crew kitted up and stood-by at the station, ready to launch the charity's D class inshore lifeboat immediately if assistance was required.
The man made it safely ashore at a small cove near the Huer's Hut, where he was detained by police officers, and the lifeboat crew were stood down at 2pm.
Notes to editors
Newquay RNLI’s shop at Newquay Harbour is open 11am-4pm every day (subject to volunteers’ availability) for shopping that saves lives at sea.
Newquay lifeboat station first opened in 1860. Today’s RNLI volunteers operate two inshore lifeboats and are on call 24-hours-a-day to save live lives at sea. You can donate to Newquay RNLI online and support the work of our lifeboat volunteers at:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/newquay-rnli-lifesavers-fund-2021
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Andy Hobkinson, Newquay RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or 07880 507464 or Marianne Quinn, Regional Media Officer at [email protected] or 07786 668847 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.
