MINEHEAD LIFEBOAT RESCUES PADDLE-BOARDERS
Two paddle-boarders who found themselves unable to get ashore when wind and tide were against them were rescued by Minehead’s RNLI lifeboat crew on Sunday afternoon.
The women, both in their 30s, had put out from Dunster beach using a single board.
But onlookers raised the alarm when they appeared to have got themselves into a difficult position.
The tide had just started ebbing and with a strong offshore breeze the pair were finding it impossible to make any progress back to the beach.
Minehead’s volunteer crew launched their station’s Atlantic 85 and were on scene within five minutes.
Station spokesman Dave Smith said: “As soon as the boat got close to the women they began shouting and waving and they were obviously in trouble and quite frightened.
”The crew got them aboard and they were clearly very grateful to have been rescued. They were both tired and one in particular had swallowed quite a bit of water.”
The casualties were landed back on Dunster beach and handed over to the care of a local coastguard team.
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.