Super swimmers raise £1400 for Fowey RNLI

This was the 13th annual Fowey Harbour swim, organised by Gaynor Edwards of the Fowey River Fundraising Group and her team of volunteers. The swimmers took to the water from the steps at Fowey Harbour town quay and swam to a marker flag located near Readymoney beach and back again to the town quay.

Fowey is a busy harbour, with pleasure boats, ferries, yachts, working boats and the odd cruise liner or two. To ensure the safety of the swimmers a flotilla of volunteer safety boats, kayaks and Fowey’s inshore D class lifeboat were on the water to assist.

Andy Bramwell, RNLI Community Manager for Cornwall, says: ‘The RNLI relies on voluntary donations to help save lives at sea and provide vital training for lifeboat crews. The Fowey Harbour swimmers raised an incredible £1400 and I would like to thank all of them, plus the organisers and volunteer helpers for their valiant efforts and support.

Andy continues: ‘Sea swimming is very popular at the moment and an organised event like this is a great way to take part, swimming with a group of people between supervised flag markers. Swimmers may often overestimate their ability and under estimate unforeseen currents, cold water and waves that make open water swimming very challenging. It was very encouraging to see so many swimmers yesterday wearing brightly coloured swim hats and using tow floats, both of which increase your visibility in the water.’

If you would like to donate to the Fowey RNLI lifeboat charity, you can do so on the fundraising page at https://bit.ly/3jo4ccG

Photo credits: Cathy Baillie

Notes to editors

• Fowey lifeboat station has been operating for nearly 150 years. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to:
  https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fowey-lifeboat-station
• A photo of Fowey’s lifeboat can be viewed at: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fowey-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Cathy Baillie, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07787 709986 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, Regional Press Officer [email protected] and 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.

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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.