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What a busy week for Newquay RNLI volunteers.

Lifeboats News Release

So far this week, Newquay RNLI volunteers took part in a multi-agency training exercise, welcomed back the stations own D class lifeboat and rescued two people cut off by an incoming tide at Whipsiderry Beach.

Casualties stranded on rocks after being cut off by incoming tide

RNLI/Abi Wild

Casualties stranded on rocks
On Monday 17 April, Newquay volunteer crews were engaged in a multi-agency exercise, the scenario was a mid-air plane collision, parachutes seen descending into the sea around Perranporth and a potential six casualties to be located.
Both of the charity's inshore lifeboats were launched and successfully located an inflatable life raft containing the 'virtual' casualties.

John Warbutton, Launch Authority on the day said 'An exercise of this magnitude and seriousness has not been attempted before, being so close to the airport and having a lot of military crafts in the air space above Newquay means that this type of rescue is not beyond the realms of reality. Newquay is privileged to have an amazing plethora of rescue teams and its great to get the opportunity to work together as one large team'.

Wednesday 19 April saw the stations D class lifeboat return from having her refit.

Enid Mary, the smaller of Newquay’s lifeboats arrived home at 11am, volunteer crew members kitted her out with the charity's lifesaving equipment, transferred from the relief boat which was on loan from the RNLI and she went to sea around 12.30pm. All sea trials were passed and Enid Mary was put back on service at 1.00pm.

It wasn't long before Enid Mary was back in action after an alert page was received at 4.33pm. Both of the charity's lifeboats were launched and tasked to assist two people cut off by the incoming tide at Whipsiderry Beach. The couple had been out mussel picking and hadn't noticed the fast incoming tide.

The couple were safely assisted on board the charity's Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Uncle Johnny and taken back to Newquay harbour. They were given a hot drink in the lifeboat station and were clearly very grateful for the efforts of Newquay's RNLI volunteers.

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, Twitter 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.