Crew training exercise turns into rescue by Exmouth RNLI
Exmouth RNLI lifesavers were on exercise today when they rescued a young bodyboarder in distress off Exmouth seafront.
At 1.10pm today Friday 19 August 2022 the crew of Exmouth inshore lifeboat D-805 George Bearman II were returning to Exmouth Lifeboat Station following a search exercise with Exmouth National Coastwatch Institution off the Exmouth shoreline when they were waved down by a teenage bodyboarder in distress near number 7 buoy in the channel. He was struggling against the tide and unable to make headway.
The crew sped to the scene, retrieved the 13 year old boy from the water on to the lifeboat and took him to the safety of Exmouth beach where he was reunited with his parents. The volunteer crew assessed his condition, he was found to be uninjured and did not require medical attention.
The inshore lifeboat then returned to Exmouth Lifeboat Station when it was back on service a short time later.
Exmouth RNLI crew involved were :
Deputy Launch Authority : Hedley Saunders
Tractor Driver : Andy Stott
Inshore Lifeboat : Helm, Henry Mock. Crew, Geoff Mills and Dougie Wright.
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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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